35K Filipinos repatriated since Covid-19 pandemic

FILE: Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) heading to their hometowns after completing mandatory quarantine queue at the departure area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 during a send-off on Tuesday (May 26, 2020) (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA – More than 35,000 overseas Filipinos (OFs) have been repatriated since the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported Friday.

As of June 5, at least 13,566 land-based OFs returned to Manila while 21,829 are cruise ship crews.

Within the next few days, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola said more repatriates are expected to arrive from Japan, France, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Washington, and South Korea.

“It was announced that starting next week, the quota (for OFs arrivals) will increase to 1,200 each day, so there will be more repatriates,” she said in Filipino during a virtual conference.

Overseas Filipino workers are among those severely affected by the various mobility restrictions imposed by countries to arrest the spread of Covid-19.

During the lockdown, business operations have been halted and thousands were displaced from work.

But aside from effects on employment, thousands have also been diagnosed with the illness.

The DFA said 2,788 OFs are undergoing treatment from Covid-19–273 in the Americas, 154 in the Asia Pacific, 455 in Europe, and 1,906 in the Middle East/Africa.

There are a total of 5,361 confirmed cases among OFs, 2,212 have recovered while 361 had died.