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As the world continues its battle against the coronavirus pandemic, OFW and migrant Filipinos are just as affected in the hundreds of countries they are staying in, even inside the comforts of their homes. Some more than others as a surge of cases have been seen in countries like India, Brazil, the United States, and our very own, the Philippines.
In late 2019, an outbreak of the infectious viral disease first occurred in Wuhan, China. It was not immediately contained and many travelers in and out of that area who were infected traveled back to hundreds of places, thus spreading the respiratory disease. Millions of Filipinos were not prepared for a lockdown that would turn out to be a lengthy one, spanning over a year. Leaving the house was not allowed and many did not know what to do during this quarantine period.
It was only in late January 2020 when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). By then, it was already too late as some countries were taken aback and were not equipped to immediately close off borders and halt travels.
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A year after, most of the world is still in a precarious position. While several vaccines have been approved for public use, access to them is still limited because the high demand is not equal to the available supply. Travel was completely banned in some countries in the first few months of quarantine. However, closing off borders was not a sustainable solution as the economy continued to halt and eventually decline. A few countries then started allowing travel but only for those who were medically cleared to do so or had priority business overseas.
More months passed and now a good number of countries have finally lifted their bans on traveling but only under the condition that travelers adhere to public safety protocols. If you are an OFW or migrant Filipino planning on returning home to the Philippines, read on to know more about what you should expect before traveling.
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The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has released guidelines for OFW and migrant Filipinos traveling into the country last February 1, 2021. As of writing, these guidelines are still in place. All international passengers arriving at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will follow the latest travel safety protocols implemented by the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
No matter your business in the country, whether you are an OFW investor, businessperson, or simply going home to see family, as long as you are a Filipino international passenger, you will be allowed entry into the country. There are two categories for travelers: OFWs and ROFs.
OFWs or Overseas Filipino Workers are people who left the country to pursue work or a career abroad. International students, tourists, and Balikbayans are often considered as non-OFWs or ROFs (Returning Overseas Filipinos). For this article, detailed OFW travel guidelines as published by the DFA will be listed below.
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While following all of these protocols, don’t forget to also follow the basic public safety guidelines for containing the spread of the virus. Keep your masks and face shields or eye protection on, wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your face before disinfecting your hands, use footbaths when available, and minimize contact by maintaining social distancing at all times.
As part of the efforts by the World Health Organization to curb the spread of COVID-19, there are Public Health Advisories that have been issued over the past year. Some of these advisories have been adapted by countries and modified to fit their citizens’ needs and safety. In the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) is in charge of public safety protocols and the overall COVID-19 response of the country.
Symptoms
Some of the most common symptoms of being infected with the virus are:
Other less common symptoms include conjunctivitis, migraines, sore throat, diarrhea, and other digestive problems. More serious symptoms are difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, chest pains, loss of speech or movement, and low oxygen levels.
If you are experiencing one or more serious symptoms, seek immediate help. The DOH has launched the One Covid Referral Center which you can call at 1555 or 0919-977-3333 or 0915-777-7777 or 886-505-00.
For those who are outside of Metro Manila, contact your Local Government Unit or the nearest medical care facility. Above all, do not panic. Try to stay calm if you feel if you have been infected. Let your immediate family and friends know about your condition so they can keep tabs on you and help get you the medical attention you may need.
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the virus is a respiratory illness that is spread via respiratory droplets when sneezing or coughing. Once you inhale these infected droplets, you are immediately susceptible to infection. The most effective way of preventing infection is wearing a mask at all times and making sure your hands are clean and sanitized after touching possibly infected surfaces.
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Other safety protocols that you should also keep in mind include:
If you are an OFW or migrant Filipino and have traveled internationally before going back to the country, it is of the utmost important that you follow the implemented travel guidelines and protocols. If you are traveling in a family group, note that if any of you are classified as an OFW, then your entire family is considered as OFWs. Once you have finished the mandated quarantine period, stay vigilant for possible late symptoms and keep observing public safety protocols.
Most importantly, stay informed. As the pandemic continues, it is important that you know what is happening in your immediate surroundings. There are free apps that keep track of hotspots for numbers of infected persons. Try to keep track by watching or reading the news and looking out for the latest updates.
For OFWs and migrant Filipinos coming home, you may want to take advantage of being in the country and start your real estate investments. For more details, head on over at www.vistalandinternational.com and browse the website for all the latest on OFW investments and real estate assets in the Philippines. As the premiere and largest homebuilder in the country, Vistaland International provides more than just house and lot properties in the Philippines for OFW investors. VIMI also updates OFWs and migrant Filipinos with the latest news and timely trending topics that can be accessed and shared through their website’s blogs.
Vistaland International Marketing, Inc. (VIMI) is the international marketing division of Vista Land. Aiming to provide OFWs and migrant Filipinos a home in the Philippines, VIMI has established long-lasting relationships with brokers and clients around the world.
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