An OFW-seafarer has reached out to ABS-CBN News to complain about "filthy and unhygienic" conditions in a Quezon City hotel where they are on quarantine for 2 weeks.
LOOK: Cockroach inside the hotel room, garbage on top of window-type aircon units
LOOK: Cockroach inside the hotel room, garbage on top of window-type aircon units
OFW-seafarer says that in the restroom, there were stains on the water basin and the tiles of the shower area while light brown water flowed from the faucet and from the water tank of the toilet bowl itself. Says it took hours before water cleared, making it possible to shower.
The bedsheet and pillowcases, the OFW says, do not appear to have been properly washed.
OFW also provides photos of dirty rug outside the hotel room and the wet parking area where their luggage were unloaded.
OFW also provides photos of dirty rug outside the hotel room and the wet parking area where their luggage were unloaded.
“Lahat po kami disappointed po sa mga nakita namin kasi sobrang pagod na po talaga kami. Ang dami naming pinagdaanan,” the OFW says, adding that they just came from a 14-hour flight from London on Saturday where they were only given sandwich to eat.
OFW: "Ano po kami dun sa barko, COVID-free po kami. Healthy po kaming uuwi dito ng Pilipinas
parang feeling namin mas magkakasakit pa kami dahil sa kina…kakahinatnan namin dito…
Parang dito pa kami magkakasakit…pati sa stress."
parang feeling namin mas magkakasakit pa kami dahil sa kina…kakahinatnan namin dito…
Parang dito pa kami magkakasakit…pati sa stress."
“Nagtatrabaho po kami sa cruise ship so alam po namin yung standard ng kung ano ba ‘yung paglilinis," OFW says, adding they had to teach the hotel room cleaners how to clean the room and provided gloves to a cleaner who was not wearing one while scrubbing the toilet bowl.
OFW says they were given a run-around as to whom to approach to complain:
“Sabi po ng mga taga-DOH dito...manning agency daw po yung pumili nitong hotel namin. Ang sabi naman po ng manning agency, approved daw ng DOH/BOQ itong hotel."
“Sabi po ng mga taga-DOH dito...manning agency daw po yung pumili nitong hotel namin. Ang sabi naman po ng manning agency, approved daw ng DOH/BOQ itong hotel."
Under POEA checklist for manning agencies, all quarantine facilities/hotels must be cleared by DOH thru BOQ.
OFW: “Paano naging approved kung ganun kadumi?...Chineck ba nila? Sana man lang, bago kami nakarating dito, talagang chineck na malinis po yung kinalalagyan nung area.”
OFW: “Paano naging approved kung ganun kadumi?...Chineck ba nila? Sana man lang, bago kami nakarating dito, talagang chineck na malinis po yung kinalalagyan nung area.”
What alarms the OFW even more is that they are not allowed to post anything on social media nor grant media interviews, otherwise their phones will be confiscated, based on a copy of the 14-Day Quarantine House Rules bearing the logo and letterhead of the DOH and BOQ.
OFW: Ok lang kung maganda yung kalagayan namin dito. Pero kung hindi naman po maganda...bakit hindi namin kailangan i-expose? Kahit daw po sa mga kamag-anak namin wag sabihin. Paano yung mga nag-aalala para sa amin? Syempre nagtatanong din sila kung ano ba yung kinalagyan namin.
OFW appeals to PH govt to look into their situation: “Gusto lang po namin na sana maayos po yung kalagayan namin dito. Kahit hindi po kami ilagay sa magarang hotel, basta alam po naming malinis yung kalagayan namin."
ABS-CBN News tried to reach out to the hotel but the staff referred our query to the DOH. The manning agency, the DOH and the BOQ have yet to respond to our request for comment. We are withholding names of hotel and manning agency until they are able to comment on the issue.
FULL STORY:
UPDATE: Following our story about unhygienic conditions in a hotel where OFW-seafarers are quarantined, OWWA administrator @HansLeoCacdac reached out to ABS-CBN News to ask for details.
Migrante and the office of Sen. Hontiveros also offering to provide help.
Migrante and the office of Sen. Hontiveros also offering to provide help.
UPDATE: A few days after ABS-CBN News reported Tuesday the plight of returning OFWs who were quarantined in a “filthy and unhygienic” hotel in Quezon City, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration says it has taken steps to address their complaint.
OWWA Dep Admin Faustino Sabarez says he instructed their Repatriation and Assistance Division and MARINA to call the attention of the manning agency, the day after the report came out. The following afternoon, he says, the hotel mgt and the manning agency fixed their services.
Sabarez, who personally visited the hotel Thursday upon the instructions of OWWA Admin @HansLeoCacdac, provided photos of clean rooms and cleaning tools provided to OFWs.
Sabarez also shared photos of meals and water given to OFWs in the hotel: ’Yung kanilang food delivery ay ok naman po. Napakaganda na po ng pag-aasikaso sa kanila.
OFW who complained confirms better situation but clarified they cleaned rooms themselves: Few rooms lang po yung nilinis nila. Hindi na rin po nagcomplain ‘yung iba dahil ayaw na nilang gawing big deal. As per my colleagues, okay na sila, basta may provided na cleaning materials.
On Thursday, the office of Sen. Risa Hontiveros sent relief goods to the OFWs in the hotel, which were distributed Friday.
OFW: Pakisabi po sa office ni senator, we're grateful po sa help and sympathy niya.
OFW: Pakisabi po sa office ni senator, we're grateful po sa help and sympathy niya.
Manning agency and hotel still have not responded to our request for comment but OFW confirms they received hygiene kits from manning agency a day after the report came out.
The manning agency earlier provided water, coffee, an electric kettle, mug, other supplies Monday night.
The manning agency earlier provided water, coffee, an electric kettle, mug, other supplies Monday night.
Department of Health (DOH) and the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) have also not yet returned our query on why OFWs on quarantine are prohibited from posting anything on social media.
The OFW is thankful for OWWA’s response and the help from the media but hopes the next batches of OFWs who will be repatriated will be quarantined in clean and safe facilities: Sana talaga ma-check na ng DOH/BOQ ‘yung area nang mabuti bago gamitin.
Still, OFW has unanswered questions:
-Why were they placed in a filthy hotel?
-Who is responsible for their situation: BOQ? DOH? OWWA? Manning agency?
-Why do guidelines prohibit posting on social media?
-Why were they placed in a hotel in a crowded area near a public market?
-Why were they placed in a filthy hotel?
-Who is responsible for their situation: BOQ? DOH? OWWA? Manning agency?
-Why do guidelines prohibit posting on social media?
-Why were they placed in a hotel in a crowded area near a public market?
OFW: Sana may marinig kaming maayos na sagot sa government and manning agency bago matapos ang quarantine period namin.
Hindi po kami nanghihingi ng special treatment but we’re just asking for a fair and humane treatment.
Hindi po kami nanghihingi ng special treatment but we’re just asking for a fair and humane treatment.
OFW also asks public not to discriminate against them:
Ang mga repatriated seafarers, andaming nagjudge as if confirmed COVID-19 cases kami. We are just abiding by the quarantine policies. Na-quarantine na din kami more than 14 days pa nga sa mga respective fleets namin.
Ang mga repatriated seafarers, andaming nagjudge as if confirmed COVID-19 cases kami. We are just abiding by the quarantine policies. Na-quarantine na din kami more than 14 days pa nga sa mga respective fleets namin.
OFW: Sana yung iba, magbasa nang mabuti bago magpass ng judgment. Alamin ano difference ng PUI, PUM at confirmed.
(DOH has since done away with PUM status, classifying patients instead into suspected, probable, confirmed cases.)
(DOH has since done away with PUM status, classifying patients instead into suspected, probable, confirmed cases.)
PERSONAL: Thanks again mga ka-Twitter for making some noise about the "filthy, unhygienic" quarantine hotel issue. OWWA Administrator @HansLeoCacdac reached out through Twitter, most probably after seeing your outrage. Thanks sir for taking action!
May nagagawa ang pag-iingay!
May nagagawa ang pag-iingay!
