PH Embassy in Phnom Penh Assists 168 Overseas Filipinos Repatriation to Manila
Colonel Shalimar Imperial (in black jacket)l, Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché to Cambodia, speaks with a repatriate. (Phnom Penh PE photo)
PHNOM PENH 29 September 2020 — The Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh facilitated the return to Manila of two batches of distressed/stranded Filipinos in Cambodia this month. Onboard special commercial flights of Cambodia Airways and Cambodia Angkor Air, a total of 168 overseas Filipinos arrived in Manila on 17 September and 28 September 2020, respectively.
The plane tickets of all but 39 repatriates were charged to the Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Fund of the Department of Foreign Affairs. This brings to 761 the number of Filipinos assisted by the Embassy in returning to the Philippines since the start of the pandemic.
The Embassy coordinated with relevant government authorities in Cambodia to obtain the necessary permits for these special flights and with the two airlines to ensure that the plane tickets were offered at very affordable rates.
As a whole-of-government undertaking, the repatriation flights were coordinated by the Department of Foreign Affairs with the Department of Health, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Philippine Coast Guard, Civil Aviation Board, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, among other agencies.
“Being a jobless OFW, I appreciate the help of the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia to bring us back home. They never failed to give full assistance, ensuring that we arrive safely. Maraming maraming salamat po sa walang sawang pagtulong (Thank you so much for your tireless help),” said an OFW who hails from Zambales.
Another OFW, who is a mother of two toddlers, sent a text message to the Embassy upon her arrival in Manila, “Maraming salamat po sa tulong nyo po at sa lahat po ng nasa Embassy. Maraming maraming salamat po. Hindi ninyo po ako pinabayaan. Ang hirap po magtravel nang may dalawang toddlers. Pero pinagaang ninyo po lahat. Taos pusong pasasalamat po sa lahat ng pagtulong at pag alalay. God bless po sa inyong lahat diyan, sana po marami pa po kayong matulungan.” (Thank you very much for the help extended to me by everyone in the Embassy. I really appreciate that you did not fail to care for me. It was very difficult to travel with two toddlers. But you helped ease my burden. My heartfelt thanks for the assistance and the guidance. May God bless everyone in the Embassy. May you be able to help more people.)
This month’s flights were the 6th and 7th flights organized/facilitated by the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia. The Embassy, along with the other Philippine Foreign Service Posts, stands ready to assist overseas Filipinos affected by COVID-19. END
Embassy personnel hand out plane tickets and meal packages to repatriates. (Phnom Penh PE photo)
Embassy Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Myca Magnolia M. Fischer (in blue shirt) pose for a photo with repatriates before they board their early morning flight on 28 September 2020. (Phnom Penh PE photo)
Repatriates give a thumbs up for the Philippine Government's efforts to bring them home. (Phnom Penh PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.phnompenhpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHLinCambodia/ or https://twitter.com/PhilippineIn