More than 600 Filipino seafarers repatriated from a ship docked in the United Kingdom arrived in the Philippines on Saturday, bringing the total repatriated OFWs to more than 20,000.
The Philippine’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that 610 Filipino seafarers onboard the MV Queen Mary 2 flew on 2 chartered flights from London and arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
They were met by officials of the DFA, Singa Ship Management Philippines Inc., Career Philippines Ship Management Inc., and Magsaysay Maritime Corp., the local manning agencies of the seafarers.
“The repatriation of this batch of seafarers was made possible with the cooperation of the management of MV Mary Queen 2 and assistance of the Philippine Embassy in London,” DFA said in a statement.
Representatives from the Overseas Workers Welfare Association, Department of Tourism, Department of Health, Bureau of Quarantine, Department of Transportation, Philippine Coast Guard, Maritime Industry Authority, and Manila International Airport were also present in welcoming the returning Filipino workers.
The DFA assured the newly arrived Filipino workers underwent the appropriate airport medical protocols and will be placed under the mandatory 14-day quarantine, which is required by the Department of Health and Bureau of Quarantine.
A total of 1,185 Filipinos abroad have tested positive for the coronavirus disease, the DFA reported Friday. (Source: INQUIRER.net)