OFWs dismayed after being ‘abandoned’ by OWWA in Calamba, Laguna

Four overseas Filipino workers from Dubai were dismayed after the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration left them in a bus terminal in Calamba, Laguna instead of bringing them back to their hometowns in Bicol.

According to a 24 Oras report by John Consulta on Tuesday, the OFWs just returned to the country from the United Arab Emirates and were brought immediately to the bus terminal.

At first, the Filipino workers thought the terminal was just a meeting place and that they will be picked up from there to their respective hometowns in Bicol and Camarines Sur.

"Akala namin dadalhin kami kung saan man na mga hotel o kung saan kami puwede," Marlon Ramirez said. "Takot kami kasi 'di naman namin kabisado 'tong lugar na 'to."

Mary Ann Olivarez, who is three months pregnant, expressed frustration after she spent the night in the terminal in Barangay Turbina.

"Sana matulungan pa kami, hindi lang kami pati 'yong mga susunod pa sa amin. Sana mapabilis naman po kasi mahirap lalo na sa ganitong sitwasyon," she stressed.

OWWA, meanwhile, immediately responded to the location after knowledge of the situation of the stranded OFWs.

Upon the arrival of an OWWA personnel, he said the four will be brought back to Manila in which the OFWs refused due to the cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the city.

"Bakit sa Manila nanaman ho eh napakaraming infected doon. Bakit ibabalik pa kami doon eh kaya nga kami umalis doon. Parang awa niyo naman pagod na pagod na po kami bigyan niyo naman kami ng solusyon," one of the OFWs said.

Minutes later, a van from OWWA arrived that would transport the OFWs back to their homes.

"Humihingi kami ng paumanhin sa aming mahal na OFWs pero naresolba naman," OWWA administrator Hanz Cacdac said.

Cacdac said OWWA was already able to help about 7,000 stranded OFWs since the beginning of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News