Volume 1 I Issue 5 I May 2020

Reintegrating Overseas Filipino Workers

Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
Ma. Divina Gracia Z. Roldan 1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
NOTICE
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are among
those adversely affected by the COVID-19
The views provided in this policy brief pandemic Returning OFWs belong to
do not represent the official views of vulnerable groups that need immediate
the authors' institutional affiliation. uttention und ussistunce. More thun 18,000
These insights are offered voluntarily overseas Filipinos have reportedly returned
as a resource for consideration by local home since the repatriation of 30 Filipinos from
authorities. All errors are ours. Wuhan, China, in February (Ramos, 2020) They
Join millions of Filipinos who have lost their Jobs
and face risks, pressures, and uncertainty during
these critical times
1 Professor, Department of Political Science,
De La Salle University
What measures did the national government
undertake to address the needs of returning
OFWs due to the pandemic? How can different
stakeholders play a role in potential areas for policy intervention? What are the long-term
solutions needed to reintegrate OFWs displaced by this global health crisis?

The brief discusses the government's response to the plight of returning OFWs in light of the
COVID-19 pandemic With protocols in place, relief measures were given to stranded OFWs such
as transportation, cash assistance, temporary shelter in quarantine facilities, and food

The influx of tens of thousunds of OFWs returning to the country is duunting The ussistunce they
need during this time includes sources of income, health care including psychological support,
and legal assistance in cases where recruitment/ manning agencies do not release benefits or
claims due them

Long-term solutions are needed to address the needs of returning OFWs as a result of the
coronavirus crisis Interventions in support of their needs are crucial and can be enhanced in the
national reintegration program Collaborative efforts by national and local governments,
Congress, migrant organizations, and the private sector are imperative

Policy Brief I Volume 1 I Issue 5 I May 2020 De La Salle University 1

Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance
 Reintegrating Overseas Filipino Workers Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
I OVERVIEW
Since news of the COVID-19 outbreak was
reported in January 2020; the Philippine
Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging
Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID)was convened
to address this growing concern. The IATF-
EI D, created through Executive Order No
168 in 2014, became the Philippines' policy-
making body on measures to combat
COVID-19 in the country. A whole-of-
government approach was adopted
emphasizing joint activities of all public
agencies to provide a solution to the
pandemic Government agencies, namely.
the Department of Foreign Affairs, the
Department of Health (DOH), and the
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration
(OWWA), were mobilized
Protocols for Returning OFWs
Government authorities have put in place
strict measures to be followed upon the
arrival of OFWs. To prevent the spread of
COVID-19, procedures were drawn up and
first implemented with the repatriation of 30
Filipinos from Wuhan, China. New Clark City
in Pampanga was chosen as the initial
quarantine area for OFWs.
OFWs flying back to the country have to go
through a Rapid Antibody Test by the
Bureau of Quarantine (BCQ) at the airport.
Those with COVID-19 symptoms are
escorted to a quarantine facility approved by
the IATF. Their health conditions are
monitored by the DOH and OWWA. Those
without symptoms are escorted by OWWA
representatives, assisted by the Department
of Transportation (DOTr) and Philippine
Coast Guard, to assigned accommodations
for a 14-day mandatory facility-based
quarantine
There were reportedly 42,000 repatriated
OFWs that arrived during the period when
much of the Philippines were placed under
lockdown. From March 16, 2020 to May 27,
2020 Approximately 27,000 were put in
various quarantine facilities in Metro Manila.
Policy Brief I Volume 1 I Issue 5 I May 2020
Around 5,000 of these were seafarers, who
spent the quarantine in cruise ships docked
in Manila Bay. About 500 OFWs tested
positive for the COVID-19 virus and around
24,000 tested negative. As of May 27, 2020
19,000 were sent home to their provinces
after receiving their test results and
completing the mandatory quarantine
period. Many of the repatriated OFWs
exceeded the mandatory 14-day period as
they waited for the result of their test results.
Many stayed in quarantine for more than a
month (CNN Philippines Staff; Depasupil,
2020; Merez, 2020)
OFWs who have finished the quarantine
period are given a Certificate of Completion
of Quarantine Period by the BCQ and a
Certificate of Completion of Stay by OWWA.
OFWs who have completed the mandatory
quarantine period have been transported to
their provinces and residences. Many were
provided free transportation and temporary
shelter. Some seafarers were provided food
packs, and OFWs in regions were provided
food, accommodations and transportation.
(Overseas Workers Welfare Administration,
n.d)
Among those who underwent quarantine at
the facility in New Clark City, Pampanga were
the 445 Filipino crew of ship carrying Filipino
crew docked at the Port of Yokohoma
Japan early February and arrived in th~
Philippines on February 25, where the Filipino
crew disembarked These seafarers where
given PlO;000 each, transportation service,
and airline tickets to their remote home
provinces after being cleared by the DOH
(Santos, 2020)
There are 29 cruise ships anchored in Manila
as of May 25, 2020 and more passenger
ships carrying Filipino crew may arrive in the
coming weeks. The Ruby Princess and
Artania cruise ships, which had COVID-19
outbreaks, also have hundreds of Filipino
crew members scheduled to disembark in
Manila ports on the month of May 2020
Another 42,000 OFWs are expected to be
repatriated in June 2020
~ De La Salle Universitv
~ Jl'.ssc l\.1 Robn.:do Insrmm: of Gmcrnan:c 2
 Reintegrating Overseas Filipino Workers Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
Government response to the
plight of OFWs
The government has been quick to provide
relief assistance to OFWs that were
displaced by the pandemic Relief efforts
came in the form of cash assistance,
transportation, distribution of food packs
and hygiene kits, and temporary shelter.
Foreign posts and offices were also
activated for this purpose
In the Middle East, for instance, the
Philippine overseas labor offices through the
OWWA, employees of recruitment
agencies, and other government offices
assisted in the repatriation of OFWs from
Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait,
and Qatar. Food packs and hygiene kits were
also distributed to OFWs by OWWA offices
in Israel, Bahrain, Macau, Greece, Singapore,
and Japan (Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration, n.d)
On March 17, 2020 the OWWA and the
DOTr launched the "Hatid-Sundo Program
for Stranded OFWs", providing free transport
service to OFWs arriving and leaving the
country through the NAIA Free bus rides
plied routes from NAIA to Dau, Pampanga;
Calamba, Laguna; Quiapo, Commonwealth
and Monumento, EDSA in Metro Manila.
The Hatid-Sundo buses served a total of
7,958 OFWs according to OWWA reports
but was suspended on March 30 during the
enhanced community quarantine period
(Overseas Workers Welfare Administration,
n.d)
Some 652 OFWs bound for Visayas and
Mindanao were reportedly provided with
food and were billeted in various hotels
around Metro Manila as they wait for their
scheduled flights to their home provinces.
The 363 OFWs who landed in NAIA but
ended up in the Diosdado Macapagal
International Airport in Clark, Pampanga
were likewise provided with food, lodging,
and transport assistance.
In relation to this, the IATF issued Resolution
Policy Brief I Volume 1 I Issue 5 I May 2020
22 of 2020 enjoining local government units
(LG Us) to facilitate the safe and unhampered
passage of from quarantine facilities and to
their provinces and residences after
completing the mandatory quarantine
period LG Us are also directed by the IATF to
allow docking of maritime vessels in their
ports for OFWs to disembark and return to
their home destinations.
Part of the government's relief efforts
involved the distribution of cash to returning
OFWs. Stranded OFWs were given PHP
10,000 each, drawn from the OWWA Trust
Fund of member-OFWs for OWWA
member-OFWs, and the same amount for
land-based and sea-based OFWs under the
Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE)-AKAP program.
In addition, Livelihood development
assistance under the Balik Pinasl Balik-
Hanapbuhayl Program is also provided by
OWWA to qualified OFWs. OFWs are
granted a minimum of PHP 10,000
maximum of PHP 20,000 cash assistance
for active OWWA members and a
maximum of PH P 10,000 for non-members
under the program The program will also be
financed from the OWWA's PHP 20- billion
trust fund collected from its members
(Depasupil, 2020)
Despite government efforts to assist
returning OFWs during this crisis, there is still
more to be done to effectively address their
plight The assistance currently provided by
the government are only stop-gap
measures. The key is to strengthen the
reintegration of OFWs as a long-term
solution.
Existing Reintegration Program
Reintegration is the process in which
migrants are re-incorporated into their
country of origin It enables individuals to re-
establish the economic, social and
psychosocial relationships needed to
maintain life, livelihood and dignity, and
inclusion in civic life. (International
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 Reintegrating Overseas Filipino Workers Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
Organization on Migration, 2019, p. 11) This
involves a package of government
interventions to facilitate the successful re-
entry of OFWs into the mainstream of
Philippine society The implementing
agencies of the national reintegration
program are the National Reintegration
Center for OFWs, DOLE Regional Offices,
andOWWA
OWWA being the main government
agency overseeing the welfare of Filipino
migrant workers, administers the Balik Pinasl
Balik Hanapbuhay. Program, which extends a
maximum of PHP 20,000.00 loan as
livelihood assistance for OWWA members.
OWWA also manages the Overseas Filipino
Workers - Enterprise Development and
Loan Program (OFW-EDLP) in partnership
with Land Bank of the Philippines and the
Development Bank of the Philippines,
providing loans for enterprise development
among OFWs.
The DOLE, for its part, has the Assist WELL
(Welfare, Employment Legal, Livelihood)
program to address the welfare,
employment legal and livelihood needs of
repatriated workers (Department of Labor
and Employment n.d) Livelihood assistance
is provided aside from capacity-building
initiatives such as financial literacy training,
supporting OWWA-organized OFW family
circles, counseling, and legal assistance
The Balik-Pinay Balik-Hanapbuhay Program,
for example, prioritizes women OFWs who
are household service workers and victims of
illegal recruitment trafficking, or conflicts in
their host country, intending to start and
operate small businesses for self-
employment (Department of Labor and
Employment n.d) Enterprise development is
implemented by DOLE in collaboration with
OWWA
I TARGETING OFWS NEEDS
OFWs encounter many difficulties ,
especially when they are repatriated due to
Policy Brief I Volume 1 I Issue 5 I May 2020
an unexpected crisis like the COVID-19
pandemic. The challenges they face include
lack of return preparedness, the pressure to
provide for families, lack of social protection,
and limited opportunities for employment
upon their return.
Livelihood. Their immediate need is income.
While recently repatriated OFWs were given
cash assistance of PHP 10,000 by
government this amount is insufficient to
tide them over for an unknown period of
time. OFWs who return have to deal with
family expectations to continually provide for
basic necessities, wants, and unexpected
needs. The mounting pressure to do so
causes severe stress and anxiety
Cash-for-work can be a solution and an
alternative way of earning for OFWs as they
adjust to their financial condition when they
return. Re-tooling through training and
applying transferrable skills for employment
can be helpful In areas where the enhanced
community quarantine is eased, OFWs can
explore work in sectors that are allowed to
operate such as, in manufacturing,
construction, wholesale, and retail.
Most OFWs are digitally literate and
connected They know how to use mobile
phones, the Internet and social media as
they communicate with friends and family,
access entertainment and transfer
remittances while abroad Opportunities
abound for doing e-commerce among
OFWs who are well-versed in social media
and can do work from home given the "the
new normal" They can capitalize on their
technological know-how during the
quarantine period to market products and
services, which they can offer from home.
OFWs have skills they can apply to the home
country when they return. The work of
government the private sector, and non-
profit organizations is to allow them to have
the environment and opportunity to do so A
database of OFWs with their respective skills
is helpful in matching them with potential
local employers. Government agencies such
~ De La Salle Universitv
~ Jl'.ssc l\.1 Robn.:do Insrmm: of Gmcrnancc 4
 Reintegrating Overseas Filipino Workers Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
as the Bureau of Immigration, DOLE, and
OWWA are in a position to develop this
database as they collect information on
outbound and inbound OFWs.
Economic reintegration through
entrepreneurship can also yield a more
sustainable livelihood There are existing
government programs to assist OFWs who
want to set up their own micro, small, and
medium enterprises. Loans and business
development training can be accessed
through OWWA and DOLE. However, there
is a need to improve existing government
interventions by way of more aggressive
information campaigns, mentoring and
follow-up training, provision of non-collateral
loans, and helping create networks for
returning OFWs (Roldan, 2020) The
challenge is to develop returning OFWs as
an agile workforce given current conditions -
working from home and linking skills to
income-generating activities.
Healthcare. The most significant among
the social protection benefits that OFWs
need at this time is health care The risk of
contracting and spreading the coronavirus
in this sector is quite high. While they may
have access to Phil Health and supplemental
medical assistance extended by DOH and
OWWA, this is not adequate for other
contingencies such as medicines, doctors
fees, and additional laboratory tests, to name
afew
The government's existing medical
assistance and health insurance programs
are limited in coverage Expanding them to
include mental health care can lessen the
OFWs' vulnerability to crisis. Aside from
government insurance companies also
have a role to play in offering low-cost health
insurance designed specifically for OFWs.
Issuance of OFW priority medical cards and
free public health care may also be
considered
Migrant workers often experience anxiety
when they return home without work and
enough savings. Some can resort to
Policy Brief I Volume 1 I Issue 5 I May 2020
destructive behavior to cope Psychological
support and counseling are needed for
OFWs who find difficulty in dealing with
stressful situations when they are back with
their families. These interventions need to be
incorporated into public health efforts where
the national government LGUs, non-
government organizations, and local
migrant networks can collaborate. A
community support group can be formed to
connect OFWs to individuals or groups that
can provide them with advice and helpful
information.
Legal Assistance. There are instances when
during emergency situations, OFW claims
for their benefits take a long time to be
released or are withheld by recruitment and
manning agencies that placed them.
Sometimes OFWs are not even provided
with insurance coverage required by law This
is where the Department of Justice, OWWA,
DOLE, and Philippine Overseas
Employment Agency (POEA) come in.
The POEA can require recruitment and
manning agencies to release funds and
claims due to OFWs within a prescribed
period of time soon after the OFW arrives
and needs it Sanctions can be imposed on
those that do not follow this regulation
through a department order or legislation by
Congress. The migrant party-list in the
House of Representatives, together with
migrant organizations, can advocate for this.
When conflicts arise between OFWs and
recruitment/ manning agencies in securing
benefits, concerned government agencies
can provide a pool of accredited lawyers to
provide free legal assistance to OFWs in
need The list of lawyers, which OFWs can
consult may be included in an information
kit for inbound OFWs similar to those
distributed in pre-departure orientation
seminars.
The needs of OFWs, interventions required,
stakeholders, and needed response time are
summarized in Table 1.
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~ Jl'.ssc l\.1 Robn.:do Insrmm: of Gmcrnancc 5
 Reintegrating Overseas Filipino Workers Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Table 1. Returning OFWs Needs and Areas for Policy Intervention during the Pandemic

OFWNeeds Interventions Key Players Needed Response Time

Livelihood Cash-for-work National and local Soon after arrival

governments
Job placement Immediate
(referral and matching with NGOs to long-term
potential local employers)
Local migrant networks
Re-tooling
Private sector
Entrepreneurship

Healthcare, Enhanced coverage to in- National and local govern- Immediate

Psychological support, elude mental health ments(DOH, LGUs)
Counselling
Health insurance NGOs

OFW priority medical cards, Local migrant networks

free public health care
Insurance companies
Community support group

Legal Assistance Waiver of legal fees, estab- National government Immediate to long-term
lished pool of lawyers (DOJ, DOLE, POEA, OW-
WA), migrant
Mandate recruitment and party-list, Congress
manning agencies to re-
lease funds and claims due Migrant organizations
to OFWs within a pre-
scribed period of time; sane-
tions to be imposed
through legislation or de-
partment order

I CONCLUSION
The contribution of OFWs to the country's econom ic development is undeniably significant Their
remittances account for an estimated 11% of the country's total gross domestic product The
pandemic is expected to decrease the amount of remittances as more OFWs return home.
Nevertheless, considering the amount of money OFWs infuse to the economy, it is imperative to
give them priority during this current g lobal health crisis

A dual-approach for policy intervention can be adopted -- one addressing short-term needs (eg,
relief assistance) and another for long-term, post-CO V ID 19 requirements through reintegration A
3Cs guidepost is suggested for reintegration to be effective and sustainable-

Communication and contacts. Setting up a dedicated hotline for returning displaced/ distressed
OFWs is essential. OFWs in need can be directed to livelihood and other support services Aside from
this, a directory of returning OFWs can be made to match skills w ith potential loca l employers, to
facilitate networking for business, and to connect to support groups

Policy Brief I Volume 1 I Issue 5 I May 2020 6

 Reintegrating Overseas Filipino Workers Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Care. This pertains to providing subst antial healthcare, including for mental health It also involves
access to health insurance and educational assist ance for children of OFWs and other social
benefits A sense of importance in the community is helpful for OFWs If they can be linked to
networks such as, neighborhood associations or social circles of fellow OFWs w here they can tap
resources and have productive roles in,this would help improve their sense of worth and well-being
when they return home.
Collaborative efforts. Reintegration involves well-coordinated initiatives from national agencies
(eg, OWWA, DOLE), migrant organizations, and LG Us In particular, the LG Us' role is not only to work
with the DOH and the DILG in m anaging the pandemic in their areas of Jurisdiction, nor is it limited
to complying w ith the IATF directive 'to provide disembarkation and unhampered transit of
returning OFW' based on IATF Resolution 18 of 2020 LG Us can do a lot more for OFW returnees
by ensuring their representation in local development councils and incorporating their concerns in
local development plans

If the needs of returning OFWs for sustainable livelihood, social protection, and community support
are m et in the long-term, this w ill enable OFWs to rem ain in the country as productive citizens w ho
continuously contribute to national growth and development

I AUTHOR Ma. Divina Gracia Z. Roldan is a Full Professor at the Department of

Political Science, College of Liberal Arts, De La Salle University. She
obtained her PhD. in Philippine Studies at the University of the
Philippines Asian Center. She is the Graduate Program Coordinator of
the department and handles graduate and undergraduate courses in the
political science and development studies programs at the De La Salle
University, College of Liberal Arts, Manila, Philippines. Her areas of
expertise include Asian and international studies, organizational analysis,
public-private sector partnerships, migrant studies, and governance and
information and communications technology (ICT) for social inclusion.

Policy Brief I Volume 1 I Issue 5 I May 2020 7

 Reintegrating Overseas Filipino Workers Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Policy Brief I Volume 1 I Issue 5 I May 2020 8

 Reintegrating Overseas Filipino Workers Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

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~ De La Salle Universitv
Policy Brief I Volume 1 I Issue 5 I May 2020 ~ Jl'.ssc l\.1 Robn.:do Insrmm: of Gmcrnancc 9