Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 5) — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has paid 10 percent of the ₱250 million balance it owes hotels hosting quarantined overseas Filipino workers, a hotel and marketing group said on Thursday.
In an interview with CNN Philippines, the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association confirmed that OWWA delivered on Wednesday initial payment for its debt that has affected the operations of at least 20 hotels serving as COVID-19 quarantine facilities.
“That’s why we have spoken and really asked them, requested OWWA to pay us,” said Christine Ibarreta, the association’s president.
Ibarreta noted that Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has ordered the government agency to settle the remaining balance within the next seven days.
“So we continue to operate and stay afloat to buy necessary supplies to serve our modern-day heroes, the OFWs,” she added.
The association earlier disclosed that some hotels have sought for the payment so they could continue paying suppliers and employees. It also warned that establishments may be forced to shut down with cash flow getting tight.
The group, meanwhile, traced the delay to strict accounting by OWWA — a pronouncement echoed by the agency itself.
“My people are thoroughly reviewing the documents given to us… We’re being really, really careful kasi (because) we don’t want to flank the COA audit,” OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac said in a separate interview with CNN Philippines.
On Oct. 21, DOLE reported that about 6,000 OFWs were stranded in 120 hotels in Metro Manila, unable to return to their home provinces due to delays in COVID-19 tests.
CNN Philippines’ Lois Calderon contributed to this report.
