Seafarers’ Repatriation Enters its 2nd Day for this Week

PASAY CITY 02 APRIL 2020 - With the continuing suspension of international flights due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) through the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC and the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs facilitated the repatriation of 900 Filipino seafarers of the Norwegian Dawn and Star, and MSC Armonia, Meraviglia, Seaside and Divina Cruise ships from Miami, Florida this morning.

Yesterday, 881 Filipino seafarers were repatriated using chartered flights from the USA.

The continuing repatriation effort is in coordination with other government agencies including the DOH, DOT, DoTr, BI, BOQ, MIAA, and the local manning agencies as part of the whole-of-nation approach in helping our stranded Filipino seafarers.

This is a testament to the Philippine government’s commitment in providing assistance in bringing home our Overseas Filipino Workers from every corner of the globe.

The 900 seafarers were welcomed by personnel from various government agencies including three nurses from the DFA.

All repatriated seafarers will undergo mandatory quarantine as precautionary measure before their eventual travel back to their respective homes. END (Photos by DFA-OUMWA)