Senator Joel Villanueva on Friday called on the government to help Cebu-bound overseas Filipino workers and other travelers to get to their destinations, as flight diversions to Manila from Cebu could spark disruptions.
This was after Malacañang on Thursday directed all concerned government agencies to divert all international flights from Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from May 29 to June 5.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued the memorandum based on the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and “in pursuit of the national interest” in preventing the further spread of COVID-19 in the country.
“All international flights bound for the Mactan-Cebu International Airport shall be diverted to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport effective 0001H of 29 May 2021 until 235H of 05 June 2021,” the memorandum read.
Villanueva said the Inter-Agency Task Force on the COVID-19 pandemic should “mobilize all resources to ease the pain” of the thousands of Cebu-bound OFWs and other travelers whose flights from abroad will be diverted to NAIA upon the government’s order.
He said the “massive inconvenience” that will be caused by flight diversions should be immediately addressed by the government.
“Whatever expenses that the OFWs will have to incur during this travel disruption not of their own making must be shouldered by the government,” said Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee.
“Many OFWs, especially those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic, no longer have money. They have been rendered penniless because they have been stranded abroad for a long time. Where will they get their money to pay for rebooking?” he said.
“Although it will only last for a week, it will surely set off a domino effect of inconveniences to be felt by all parties, from passengers to carriers, to government agencies who must be ready with room accommodations and other contingencies,” Villanueva said.
The latest data from Mactan Cebu International Airport show that about 13 to 15 flights will be affected by the redirection.
“This will still give added burden to the government’s reception system,” Villanueva said.
He said for affected OFWs bound for the Visayas and Mindanao, the government should charter “reliever” flights instead.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr), through its attached agencies, and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) are directed to ensure the smooth diversion of inbound flights.
The memo also urges concerned agencies to enforce the current testing and quarantine protocols approved and issued by IATF-EID applicable to inbound international travelers in all ports of entry, regardless of any specific protocols that may be issued by local government units (LGUs) to the contrary.
Heads of departments shall ensure that all offices and instrumentalities under or attached to their departments abide by this directive, while the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall enforce compliance with respect to LGUs.
During a pre-recorded Cabinet meeting, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said they were closely monitoring the situation in Visayas and Mindanao, which have once again been flagged for the increasing number of COVID-19 cases.
“Visayas is showing a rise in cases with Region 6 having the fastest increase especially in Iloilo City. And also in Mindanao, Regions 9 and 10 recorded the biggest increase, while the cases in other regions are also rising,” he added.