There are currently more than 2,200 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Dubai who signed up for the repatriation efforts spearheaded by the government, according to Philippine Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes.
“As of 4 p.m., June 23, over 2,200 have signed up for our repatriation list. Mahaba po ang queue. The list is LONG and we are still working on the next schedules of repatriation flights,” Cortes said in a Twitter post.
Two repatriation flights were mounted by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). These have been scheduled on June 30 and July 17.
Each flight can ferry 350 passengers back to the Philippines.
The Philippine government will charter more flights depending on the availability of quarantine facilities.
Meantime, Cortes advised OFWs to book an appointment before heading to the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai.
“[P]lease don’t just show up at the Consulate. Pandemic times pa ho. Appointment system po tayo,” he wrote.
OFWs applying for repatriation may contact Dubai PCG’s Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) Section through email at [email protected], or via mobile numbers (Whatsapp) 056 501 5755 and 056 501 5756.
The Philippines had extended its travel restrictions for travelers from the UAE, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
Oman, which was initially included in the list, entered into a mutual agreement with the Philippine government to lift travel restrictions imposed by both sides.
The travel restriction among these countries were imposed to prevent the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19.
