The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has reported that they have already repatriated over 29,351 overseas Filipinos since the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) began in the country last February 2020.
Of this number 19,610 are Sea-based overseas Filipinos (66.8%) while 9,741 are Land-based (33.2%).
DFA Repatriation Update as of 23 May 2020
A total of 29,351 Overseas Filipinos (OFs) have now been repatriated by the DFA since it began bringing back Filipinos affected by COVID-19 in February. (1/5)#WeHealAsOne#DFAinACTION@teddyboylocsin@dododulay pic.twitter.com/590cZQl2SH
— DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) May 23, 2020
However, DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin stressed that the department will continue to push the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to increase the limit for the allowed number of passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which is currently capped at 400 per day.
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“We will keep pushing for maximum capacity of returning OFWs. The right to return home cannot be restricted by any consideration even inadequate quarantine facilities. Then just let them through. But no one keeps OFWs from home. No one,” said Locsin.
DFA urges Filipinos who wish to return home to contact the embassy or consulate for repatriation if they intend to go home for good.
The department also advised Filipinos overseas that the availability of flights may be affected by factors including travel restrictions from the country of origin, as well as the limited capacity of quarantine centres in the Philippines as all returning Filipinos are required to undergo mandatory testing and quarantine at government-assigned facilities or hotels approved by the country’s Bureau of Quarantine until they receive their COVID-19 test results.
But we will keep pushing for maximum capacity of returning OFWs. The right to return home cannot be restricted by any consideration even inadequate quarantine facilities. Then just let them through. But no one keeps OFWs from home. No one. https://t.co/kHUjLeHXFz
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) May 23, 2020
