DFA Welcomes 2nd Batch of Repatriates from North Sulawesi, Indonesia Amid COVID-19 Crisis
General Santos City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (CDRRMO), Dr. Agripino V. Dacera, Jr., and Philippine Ports Authority – PMO GenSan, Port Services Division OIC, Atty. Luz Patricia Tangco, discuss disembarkation protocols with the team. (General Santos CO photo)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY 22 October 2020 – A total of 40 stranded Filipinos were brought home from North Sulawesi, Indonesia on 17 October 2020, following the successful repatriation efforts made by the Philippine Consulate General in Manado, in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Consular Office (CO) in General Santos.
The 2nd batch of repatriates from Manado were fetched by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel “BRP Tubbataha” (MRRV-4401) on 15 October 2020 after being granted a diplomatic clearance from the Government of the Republic of Indonesia. The vessel docked at the Port of General Santos in the morning of 17 October 2020.
The local governments of General Santos City, Davao City, Mati City, municipalities of Glan and Malungon in Sarangani Province, municipality of Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental, and municipalities of Sarangani, and Sta. Maria in Davao Occidental, were present to receive their respective constituents. In compliance with health protocols implemented by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, RT-PCR tests were administered to all repatriates prior to their departure and they were subjected to another round of mandatory RT-PCR testing and 14-day quarantine in designated facilities before being cleared to return to their families.
The repatriation was made possible with the full support and cooperation of the DFA - Office of the Undersecretary of Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA), the PCG – CGD Southern Mindanao, the Philippine Ports Authority – Port Management Office of General Santos, the Bureau of Quarantine, the Bureau of Immigration, and the local government unit of General Santos.
Noted as the DFA’s first repatriation effort by sea during the pandemic, the Department pledges its full commitment in bringing home stranded Filipinos abroad. END
Philippine Coast Guard Capt. Nelbert Aniversario, District Commander for Southern Mindanao (left) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Consular Office (CO) in General Santos Acting Officer-in-Charge Helen Grace Acharon Tabora (right). (General Santos CO photo)
From left to right: Members of the Bureau of Quarantine, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Immigration, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Consular Office (CO) in General Santos, and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Davao in front of BRP Tubbataha. (General Santos CO photo)
Philippine Coast Guard in coordination with the Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Quarantine, and Philippine Ports Authority facilitate disembarkation. (General Santos CO photo)
CDRRMO General Santos makes sure that health protocols are thoroughly complied with during the repatriation mission. (General Santos CO photo)
Local government units in Regions XI and XII provide designated vehicles to ferry the repatriates to their respective hometowns. (General Santos CO photo)