Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda in discussion with presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and National Action Plan Against Covid-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon during the send-off ceremony of the 337 repatriated OFWs. Photo courtesy of Pampanga PIO
CLARK FREEPORT – “Nag–usap po kami ng governor ng Pampanga, he is more than willing na kapag nandun sa NCR yung kaniyang OFWs na taga Pampanga, kukunin niya, at siya na mismo ang magpapa–PCR dito sa JB Lingad Hospital. That is a gesture na nakikita naming pwedeng gayahin ng mga LGUs.”
Thus, was hailed Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda by Secretary Carlito Galvez, chief implementer of the National Action Plan Against Covid-19, for the governor’s initiative to help out returning Kapampangan overseas Filipino Workers who will land at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Pineda made the proposal before the national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases led by Health Secretary Francisco Duque during the send-off ceremony for the 337 OFW seafarers of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship on Tuesday at the Quest Hotel here.
“We’ve talk to Secretary Galvez and Secretary [Eduardo] Año, pinayagan na nila tayo na ang mga Kapampangan na magla–land sa Metro Manila ay pwede na natin kunin directly from the airport. So, lahat ng Kapampangan na mula ibang bansa at mag-babalik probinsya, tayo na po ang mag-aasikaso sa kanila,” Pineda said.
Interior Secretary Año called Pineda’s proposal a “milestone, if masisimulan na natin.”
“Ang ating mga LGU (local government unit) parang magiging local manning agency sila and we encourage that, that is really highly commendable para mas mapabilis ang sistema natin particularly in Luzon,” Año said.
Defense Undersecretary Cesar Yano, the designated task group head for returning OFWs, commended the governor’s initiative as “…a welcome development.”
“Sabi nga sa usapan kanina with Secretary Año, that would be the way forward. This will surely be a very good development because it will unburden Metro Manila,” Yano said.
Pineda gave the assurance that the OFWs will be housed in the quarantine facilities in the province until their reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results are released.
“I–house natin sila sa ating mga isolation facilities. We’ll provide clothing and meals, and we’ll make sure to swab them within 2-3 days para makauwi sila agad,” he pledged, with the provincial government facilitating the accommodation, swabbing, and laboratory tests of the returning OFWs.— With Luisse Rutao/Pampanga PIO
