PH Embassy in Wellington Repatriates 157 Stranded Overseas Filipinos with 15 Coming from Fiji

Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Jesus S. Domingo with the repatriates. (Wellington PE photo)

WELLINGTON 07 September 2020 – The Philippine Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand, in partnership with Philippine Airlines (PAL), successfully staged its third repatriation of Filipinos in New Zealand and Fiji on 04 September 2020. The endeavor was also made possible thanks to the crucial support extended by Air New Zealand, the Auckland Airport, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Immigration New Zealand.

In particular, the lockdowns in place since March in New Zealand and the Pacific Island Countries, meant to manage COVID-19, resulted in the suspension of flights, which meant that the stranded Filipino nationals had been in Fiji for more than five months.

Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Jesus S. Domingo said that, “It has been very challenging for the Embassy to repatriate our kababayan from the Pacific Island Countries given the travel restrictions and the absence of flights. We are still looking for ways to bring home our citizens stuck in the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga and French Polynesia.”

Moreover, in New Zealand, with the government’s implementation of a wage subsidy scheme, many lost their jobs due to the economic aftershocks of the pandemic. Thus, the Embassy and its Philippine Labor Office (POLO) mobilized assistance to the OFWs. Labor Attaché Angel Borja, Jr. shared that, “POLO Wellington tried to help our Filipino workers who were affected by COVID-19 and even those who needed medical aid by liaising with their recruitment agencies and employers.” Efforts to deliver support to displaced Filipinos who nonetheless chose to remain, continue.

For this third special commercial repatriation flight, the Embassy sent off a total of 157 Filipino citizens and their dependents, with 142 coming from New Zealand and 15 from Fiji. There were also eight foreign nationals who availed themselves of the flight.

The Embassy, ever mindful of the plight of Filipinos requesting help in returning to the Philippines but were unable to join this journey, will continue to work with its partners in finding ways to reunite them with their loved ones.

Filipino community volunteers assisted in coordinating with the passengers via social media. END

Vice Consul Feamor Tiosen (rightmost) and Information Officer Katrina Garcia (second from right) register passengers. (Wellington PE photo)

Filipinos from Fiji waiting for their transit flight. (Wellington PE photo)

The Philippine Embassy Team with Auckland volunteers, Philippine Airlines (PAL) Country Manager, Mr. Israel Fontanilla and PAL Operations Manager Mr. Reyvee Valencia. (Wellington PE photo)

For more information, visit https://www.wellingtonpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philembassy.org.nz or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNZ/.