Second Airbridge Flight from Cayman Islands and the Caribbean Brings Home 205
PASAY CITY 31 July 2020 — A second airbridge British Airways flight from the Cayman Islands arrived in Manila yesterday, 30 July 2020, carrying 205 OFWs and family members. The group included four infants and 36 OFWs from The Bahamas and British Virgin Islands who joined the flight in Nassau.
The Philippine Embassy to the United States and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office-Washington DC partnered with the Office of the Governor of the Cayman Islands in organizing the airbridge flight. A number of the OFWs were provided financial support from the Department of Foreign Affairs ATN Fund, OWWA Repatriation Fund, and private donations to the Cayman Islands Government. The Cayman Islands is a British overseas territory under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC.
“The two Manila airbridge flights are immensely appreciated. These flights underscore the strength and depth of Philippine-UK bilateral ties,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Lou Y. Arriola said in a statement.
The first airbridge flight from the Cayman Islands on 25 May 2020 repatriated 295 OFWs and family members.
“The Philippine Government will continue to work closely with other governments and organizations to mount similar repatriation flights to bring home Filipinos who are in distress as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic,” the Undersecretary added.
“We wish all of them a safe return to the Philippines and to their families. I have no doubt that all the repatriates will remember their time in the island with fondness and appreciation, as they begin new lives back home or look forward to returning to the Cayman in better times,” Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez said in a statement after being informed that the second airbridge flight from Grand Cayman had departed for London, after a brief stop in Nassau, Bahamas.
“We have always valued our partnerships with The Bahamas and the Cayman Islands governments. And we are deeply thankful for their assistance,” added the Ambassador, who also expressed his gratitude to the Filipino Community Leaders and Associations in the Caribbean for their bayanihan spirit and assistance before and during the repatriation flights.
Upon arrival, 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. END (Photos by DFA-OUMWA)
A total of 18 repatriates from the British Virgin Islands are flown to Nassau to join the second airbridge British Airways flight (Photo by the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C.)
Dr. Leo Ignacio of Bahamas Filipino community (left) with UK High Commissioner Sarah Dickson (right) (Photo by the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C.)