DFA Repatriates 160 Filipinos Stranded in Japan

PASAY CITY 01 June 2020 — A total of 160 Filipino tourists, students and OFWs stranded in Japan departed from Narita International Airport via a chartered flight mounted by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo working in close coordination with the Philippine Consulates-General in Osaka and Nagoya.

Philippine Ambassador to Japan, Jose C. Laurel V was on hand at Narita Airport to send off the repatriates. He assured the repatriates of the continuing assistance of the Philippine government to the Filipinos abroad.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, Atty. Sarah Lou Y. Arriola, said that “the repatriation of distressed Filipinos abroad is firm commitment of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte which is dutifully being implemented by the Department of Foreign Affairs.”

The 160 passengers came from all over Japan and have been stranded for weeks due to pandemic related multiple flight cancellations, limited airline seat availability, or prohibitive airfare rebooking costs.

Upon arrival in Manila, the repatriates will undergo COVID testing and hotel quarantine to wait out the results of their test. Member agencies of the One Stop Shop, led by DOTR and DOH, were at the airport and extended assistance to the repatriates. END

(Photos by DFA-OUMWA)