The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has brought home a new batch of distressed kababayans from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The DFA team said that they have mounted their first repatriation flight in August.
They brought home 382 repatriates onboard a DFA-chartered Cebu Pacific flight.
“This is the eighth DFA-chartered repatriation flight from the UAE since June 2021 and brings to 4,106 the total number of Filipinos repatriated from UAE since the start of the COVID pandemic,” the department said in a statement.
RELATED STORY: ‘Bayanihan flights’ begin
The DFA said that 7 out of 382 repatriates were pregnant women.
The DFA said that they have also provided $200 cash assistance for returning Filipinos.
“In compliance with health and safety protocols, all passengers were administered RT-PCR COVID-19 tests within forty-eight (48) hours prior to their departure from the UAE and allowed to board only if tests yielded negative results. They will undergo stringent quarantine in facilities provided by Davao City and OWWA. They will also be tested again before the end of their quarantine,” they said in a statement.
READ ON: Filipinos with expired visas fill 5 out of 10 seats on repatriation flights from UAE
“The DFA and partner agencies continue to work closely together to ensure that our distressed kababayans are repatriated and brought home safely, taking into consideration the interest of public health.” DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said.
The DFA is expected to mount 5 more repatriation flights this month.
“The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai will continue to accept applications from Filipinos in the UAE who wish to join these chartered flights,” the DFA added. (TDT)
