14th COVID-19 Relief Flight from Myanmar Arrives in PH
24 February 2021 — The Department of Foreign Affairs, through its Philippine Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar and its Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, facilitated its 14th COVID-19 relief flight from Myanmar today, bringing home 55 overseas Filipinos.
*The repatriates were flown home by a Myanmar National Airlines flight, arranged since 15 January 2021 with the cooperation of Myanmar authorities. The flight arrived in NAIA at 1325H today.*
Most overseas Filipinos who joined the flight were self-paying passengers, while two repatriates were directly assisted by the Philippine government by shouldering their overstaying fees and tickets.
“The DFA through its network of 94 Philippine Embassies and Consulates General across the globe is always ready to assist our overseas Filipinos who wish to return to the Philippines due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions in their host countries,” said Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr.
The Philippine government has consistently arranged flights for its citizens abroad, especially those whose travel plans have been affected by travel restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Wherever they are, if they are distressed Filipinos overseas, the Department can make use of the Assistance-to-Nationals Fund including the Legal Assistance Fund to provide timely and proactive service to overseas Filipinos in need,” added DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Y. Arriola.
As of 20 February 2021, the DFA has now brought home a total of 368,736 OFs since it started its COVID-19-related repatriations a year ago. END