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PH Senators grill OWWA over passenger cap policy

Some senators slammed the new policy of the Philippine government to limit in bound arrivals at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to 1,500 passengers.

The Philippines has also suspended the entry of foreigners and returning overseas Filipinos from March 20 until April 19 who are not OFWs amid a spike in Covid-19 cases.

At a Senate hearing on Thursday, Senators grilled the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) on the passenger cap, as it is unenforceable and would make it hard for overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to return home.

Under the new order of the Philippines’ Civil Aeronautics Board, international inbound arrivals at Manila’s will be limited to a maximum of 1,500 passengers per day.

“OWWA, did you recommend this particular advisory to cap at 1,500? Because if you’re recommending that we don’t allow our countrymen to go home, it doesn’t seem right.” Senator Joel Villanueva Senate asked.

“It’s like we are admitting that our quarantine testing, and contact tracing programs aren’t working. Is that an admission?” Villanueva who also serve as Senate labor committee chairperson added.

In response, OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac said that they deferred the National Task Force Against COVID-19 on the policy.

“We cannot argue with the experts on health. We go by the science, Mr Chair, and we abide by the memorandum coming from Secretary Lorenzana,” Cacdac stressed adding that the 1,500-passsnger cap is based on historical data.

Villanueva along with Minority leader Francis Drilon believe that the new policy is ineffective and confusing as some OFWs can opt to return in the Philippines through other airports.

“Three hundred sixty-five after Covid came to us, our policies are still confusing, the validity and the basis for the 1,500-cap are not clear. That is why people tend not to follow directives because hindi po naintindihan,”Drilon said.

“Bakit 1,500, how is that figure arrived at? If this is a system of making sure that we control the entry of those who may have Covid, they [can] just choose the other airport, you have Cebu, Clark. So it’s also ineffective,” he added.

Drilon alleged that OWWA supports the policy as it would help them avoid additional costs.

Cacdac responded by invoking the NTF memorandum.

In a memorandum released on Tuesday, NTF imposed an entry ban on foreigners and non-OFWs which will take effect beginning March 20.

Sharing views with fellow solons, Senator Francis Tolentino called the inbound travel cap as unenforceable.

“I foresee the unenforceability. Who will determine which airline should have a cap of 1,500 Filipinos? Which stopover should force the disembarkation of Filipinos? And which port of origin should prevent a valid ticket holder of a trip going to Manila?” he said adding that NTF should review its policy.

“How would you pluck out Filipino passport holders bound for Manila with tickets, rebook, force them [to disembark]? I really can’t imagine a situation where we would be forcing planes to return to their port of departure just because there are Filipinos and we have reached the 1,500 cap,” he added.

Villanueva later said that passenger cap policy is not feasible: “Every Filipino who had lost his job, on his last money, and had last seen his family years ago, is a kababayan in distress. Huwag po natin antaying magkalkal sila ng mga basura para makakain o mamalimos sa tabi-tabi,” said.

“They need to be brought back home because our overseas offices–undermanned and underfunded–are being overwhelmed by this growing number of stranded workers,” he continued.

“Huwag na po natin paramihin ang OFWs – Overseas Filipinos Waiting for a flight home. Kung ano man ang naipundar o naitabi nilang pera, unti-unti itong maglalaho sa bawat minutong hindi sila makauwi ng Pilipinas.”

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