DFA Repatriates 257 Filipinos from Uzbekistan, A First
PASAY CITY 22 August 2020 — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) brought home 257 overseas Filipinos from the Republic of Uzbekistan via a special chartered flight that landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport this evening.
The chartered Philippine Airlines flight (PAL 8688) that carried the Filipinos home safe is the first repatriation flight conducted in a Central Asian country.
Majority of the 257 repatriates are documented overseas contract workers employed by different companies. The Filipinos requested for repatriation assistance out of fear of contracting COVID-19 in their work sites in Uzbekistan.
"To understand the importance of this flight is to be reminded of the difficult conditions under which this special flight was mounted. The Philippines does not have an embassy, let alone an honorary consulate in Uzbekistan. In addition, there is a total lockdown. This means commercial flights are also prohibited," stated DFA Undersecretary Sarah Lou Y. Arriola.
Under the whole-of-country approach, the DFA through the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) and the Philippine Embassy in Tehran, worked closely with other concerned agencies. The Department of Health-Bureau of Quarantine, Philippine Overseas Employment Agency, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration all helped make the special flight possible. The DFA also partnered with concerned licensed manning agencies.
"A big part of the success is attributable to our kababayans themselves. Their leaders ensured adherence to the repatriation plan as well as compliance with the Philippine and Uzbek governments' health and quarantine protocols. This includes COVID-19 testing before the flight. We are thankful that all repatriates tested negative for the COVID-19 virus," added Undersecretary Arriola.
The repatriation flight was also made possible through the cooperation of Philippine Airlines which showed willingness to undertake a milestone flight to Uzbekistan in the spirit of a humanitarian mission. It also brought home the remains of one deceased OFW.
Upon arrival, the Filipinos were still subjected to appropriate medical protocols required by the Department of Health (DOH). They would also be required to undergo quarantine procedures in accordance with the Omnibus Guidelines established by the Interagency Task Force (IATF). END (Photos by DFA-OUMWA)
