DFA Charters Special Flight for Stranded Filipinos in Vietnam

One of the repatriates who arrived today on board the DFA-chartered flight from Vietnam is Mr. Nadie Repil, a fisherman who had been rescued by a Vietnamese fishing vessel after being lost at sea for a month. (Photo by DFA-OUMWA)

PASAY CITY 25 July 2020 — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) welcomed a total of 300 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Overseas Filipinos (OFs) from Vietnam. Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight PR8592 carried 300 repatriates when it arrived this afternoon at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The DFA-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA) organized this special repatriation flight and negotiated with PAL to bring home all the stranded Filipinos in Vietnam, composed of seafarers, stranded PAL ticket holders, and OFWs who lost their jobs due the pandemic. The flight went to Vietnam empty due to the country’s entry and inbound pax control limitations but PAL agreed to mount the flight even if this is not as commercially profitable compared to other routes where it is allowed to carry inbound passengers.

Several of the repatriated Filipinos had been waiting for a flight back home since May but were faced with travel restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of those who arrived today is Mr. Nadie Repil, a fisherman who had been rescued by a Vietnamese fishing vessel after being lost at sea for a month. With the able assistance of the Philippine Embassy in Vietnam, these Filipinos are one step closer to home.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) One Stop Shop at the airports continues to ensure that our repatriated kababayans will arrive safe and sound to their loved ones waiting at home.

Upon arrival, they underwent thorough briefing on current safety protocols as well as RT-PCR Testing as prescribed by the IATF-EID. They will be temporarily housed at Bureau of Quarantine-approved facilities for mandatory quarantine while they await the results 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-Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Justice-Bureau of Immigration, Department of Tourism, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Manila International Airport Authority, and the Philippine National Police, the DFA facilitates a safe and successful repatriation via a whole-of-government approach to ensure overseas Filipinos are out of harm's way.

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

(Photos by DFA-OUMWA)