2020 Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation in the Philippines 25 62 The Philippine government has implemented a series of responses. Moreover, POEA released Memorandum Circular 9-2020 the adoption of the protocols set by the DOH for arrival and repatriation of overseas Filipinos and the guidelines at seaports for all maritime vessels.109 The DOTr and its attached agencies such as Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG); and other government agencies such as the Department of Tourism – Philippines (DOT), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of National Defense – Philippines (DND), Office of Civil Defense – Department of National Defense (OCD), Department of Labor and Employment – DOLE OWWA Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (DOLE – OWWA), Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines (DFA), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), set up a One-Stop-Shop (OSS) at Terminals 1 and 2 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The OSS has overseen the processing of returning OFWs, who arrive at the airport from their testing for the coronavirus to their quarantine at government-accredited quarantine facilities, until such time they can go home to their respective homes. As of 4 July 2020, the OSS has assisted a total of 70,882 returning OFWs who arrived.110 DOLE also issued Department Order No. 211, which provides guidelines on the provision of hotel accommodation for distressed land-based and sea-based Filipino workers during the period of ECQ.111 112 To complement these efforts, the IATF endorsed the proposal of DOLE for the immediate release of the amount of PHP1.5 billion for financial assistance for overseas workers and repatriated overseas workers to be submitted to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).113 63 In addition, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will resume its livelihood program for distressed OFWs who are back in their hometowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.114 The POEA also issued Memorandum Circular No. 08-2020 that instructs all licensed manning agencies (LMA) and recruitment agencies to closely monitor their deployed OFWs and to coordinate with the concerned Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in extending needed assistance to migrant workers.115 The government has extended its support to returning OFWs. As of 20 August 2020, the ‘Hatid-Tulong Program’ has assisted and served a total of 151,152 OFWs, 47,558 of whom were transported by land, 66,038 using air transport (data for land and air transport are from 25 May 25 to 20 August) gov.ph/news/displaced-ofws-soar-past-600k/. 109 Philippine Overseas Employment Agency, Adoption of the Guidelines on the Arrival and Repatriation of Overseas Filipinos, and the Guidelines at Seaports for All Maritime Vessels Issued by the Department Of Health, Memorandum Circular No. 09, s. of 2020, available at http://www.poea.gov.ph/memorandumcirculars/2020/MC-09-2020. pdf,accessed 25 June 2020. 110 Office of Transportation, NAIA One-Stop Shop Serves more than 70,000 returning Overseas Filipino, available at http://www.ots.gov.ph/naia-one-stop-shop-serves-more-than-70-000-returning-overseas-filipinos, accessed 22 September 2020. 111 Ferdinand Patinio, DOLE to focus on OFW livelihood in post-COVID-19 plan, Philippine News Agency, May15, 2020, available at https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1102985#:~:text=MANILA%20%E2%80%93%20 The%20 Department%20of%20Labor,Covid%2D19)%20recovery%20plan.&text=We%20will%20give%20them%20 livelihood%20assistance%20of%20PHP20%2C000, accessed 25 June 2020. 112 Department of Labor and Employment, Prescribing Guidelines Governing The Provisions of Hotel Accommodation for Distress Landbased and Sea Based Filipino Workers During the Period Of Enhanced Community Quarantine or the OWWA Project Care, Department Order No. 211, March 25, 2020, available at https://www.dole.gov.ph/news/ department-order-no-211-prescribing-guidelines-governing-the-provisions-of-hotel-accommodation-for-distresslandbased-and-sea-based-filipino-workers-during-the-period-of-enhanced-community-quarantine/, accessed 25 June 2020. 113 See IATF Resolution No. 15, D. 114 Ferdinand Patinio, OWWA to resume livelihood program for OFWs, May 26, 2020 available at https://www.pna.gov. ph/articles/1103976, accessed 25 June 2020. 115 Philippine Overseas Employment Agency, Close Monitoring and Assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Seafarers Affected by the Corona Virus Diseases (COVID-19), Memorandum Circular 08, s. of 2020, available at http:// www.poea.gov.ph/memorandumcirculars/2020/MC-08-2020.pdf, accessed 25 June 2020.