DFA, DOT, Other PH Government Agencies Assist in the Repatriation of Canadian Nationals

PHOTO: Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. (center), together with Canada’s Ambassador-Designate James Peter MacArthur (right) and Philippine Airlines (PAL) President Gilbert Santa Maria (left), saw off the third batch of Canadian nationals and Permanent Residents who boarded PAL’s dedicated commercial flights to Canada on 14 April 2020.  A total of 936 passengers boarded two PAL flights to Vancouver, and one to Toronto.  Other Canadian repatriates are being organized for three more flights that are being planned in the coming days.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Tourism, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, various Local Government Units, and other government agencies provided assistance to Canada’s repatriation efforts during the Enhanced Community Quarantine imposed over Luzon due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The international flights mounted today were preceded by six PAL domestic “sweeper” flights and land transport arrangements, which brought the Canadian repatriates to Manila, for their international flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.