DFA Welcomes Home 818 OFWs from United Kingdom, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Australia

PASAY CITY 24 April 2020 – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) warmly welcomed a total of 818 Overseas Filipino Workers from various parts of the globe – the UK, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo and Australia who arrived on three separate chartered flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Thursday afternoon and early morning Friday.

“Salamat po at naka-uwi na rin kami,” exclaimed one of the repatriates from Equatorial Guinea as he made his way through the arrival area of NAIA Terminal 1.

Doctors from the Philippine Coast Guard administered rapid testing for COVID-19 on the repatriates upon their arrival. They were also briefed on quarantine protocols before they were transported to designated facilities where they will undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days.

The series of repatriations facilitated by the DFA is a testament to the whole-of-government approach, involving the DFA’s home office and foreign service posts — the Philippine Embassies in London, Abuja, Nairobi and Canberra — in coordination with DFA’s partner government agencies and the employers of the repatriates.

DFA is unwavering in its commitment to assist kababayans who are severely affected by the global Covid-19 pandemic and to date, has successfully facilitated the repatriation of 19,407 Filipinos from all over the world. END