DFA Welcomes 352 OFWs from Saudi Arabia

PASAY CITY 23 May 2020 — Steady as she goes -- the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) continues to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFW). Philippine Airlines flight PR 683 arrived with 352 Filipinos who were employees of the Nasser S. Al Hajri Corporation in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

With the said flight, the number of repatriated OFWs has breached the 29,000 mark.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) One Stop Shop at the Manila International Airports continues to ensure that the repatriated Filipinos will arrive safe and sound to their loved ones awaiting at home.

Upon arrival at NAIA Terminal 2, the repatriates underwent thorough documentation and briefing on current safety protocols prescribed by the IATF-EID as well as RT-PCR COVID-19 testing. They will be temporarily housed at Bureau of Quarantine-approved facilities for their mandatory quarantine while they await the result of their RT-PCR test.

Through coordination with the Department of Health - Bureau of Quarantine, Department of Labor - Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration, Department of Transportation - Manila International Airports Authority and Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Tourism, Philippine National Police, the Philippine Red Cross, and other members of the private sector, the DFA facilitates a safe and successful repatriation via a whole-of-government approach to ensure overseas Filipinos are out of harm's way.

DFA maintains its commitment to provide timely assistance to distressed overseas Filipinos affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. END

(Photos by DFA-OUMWA)