In a press briefing in Malacañang, Bello said DOLE’s reintegration program for OFWs affected by the 2019-nCoV ARD scare includes financial assistance, livelihood assistance, and alternative employment abroad.
He added that his agency has also given P20,000 to each of the OFWs repatriated from Wuhan, China over the weekend as they will stay in the country “for good.”“It can go as high as P1 million depende sa business na papasukan nila. Ito ay interest-free ,” he added. Meanwhile, Bello assured that if the 2019-nCoV ARD situation in the country improves, DOLE could recommend the lifting of the travel. He said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III asked for two weeks so he can observe the developments before taking any recommendatory action on the ban.Health Undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo announced during the same press briefing that the Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease was considering to include Taiwan in the travel ban.