PH Embassy in Vientiane Repatriates 46 Stranded Filipinos 

Passengers line-up at the check-in counter at Wattay International Airport for the repatriation flight from Vientiane to Manila via Myanmar National Airlines. (Vientiane PE photo)

VIENTIANE 17 November 2020 – The Philippine Embassy in Vientiane, Laos, in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar, successfully repatriated 46 Filipinos and three foreign nationals to Manila on 16 November 2020 via Myanmar National Airlines (MNA). The joint activity saw the repatriation of approximately 100 passengers from Myanmar and Laos to the Philippines, some of which were stranded due to the lack of flights or who lost their employment due to the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy.

The Filipinos expressed their appreciation of the assistance extended by the two Embassies and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), particularly in making representations with MNA, as well as the appropriate Philippine and Lao government agencies for the approval of the flight, which allowed them to return home and reunite with their families before the holiday season.

Laos remains as a low-risk country for COVID-19, recording only 24 cases from January to October 2020. The Lao government continues to implement policies and measures to prevent a second wave of the pandemic in Laos, such as closing international borders and entertainment venues, as well as limiting inbound travel to those with urgent work in the country. END

The 46 Filipinos and three foreign nationals who joined the Myanmar National Airlines flight from Vientiane, Laos to Manila express their appreciation for the assistance extended by the Philippine Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar, and the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs in making the flight possible. (Vientiane PE photo)

For more information, visit https://www.vientianepe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/vientianepe/.