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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DFA repatriates 13,320 more OFWs

DFA repatriates 13,320 more OFWs

Published Dec 23, 2020 07:02 pm

A few days before Christmas, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) flew home 13,320 overseas Filipinos which puts the total number of repatriated Filipinos at 314,158 since the department started its COVID-19 related repatriations in February.

(JANSEN ROMERO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

It also facilitated  64 special commercial repatriation flights to bring home distressed Filipinos, which include 74 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the island Diego Garcia; 33 OFWs and one minor child from Cambodia; 21 trafficking-in-persons victim from the United Arab Emirates (UAE); nine undocumented OFWs from Iraq; four OFWs and two minors from Guangzhou, China; two medical repatriates from Oman; two undocumented OFWs from Vietnam; one household service worker from Iran; and one stranded seafarer from The Bahamas. 

Thirty-two Filipino crew of stranded fishing vessels, Long Xing 905, 906, and 907 also arrived last Saturday, Dec. 19. 

The three ships were previously stranded at sea near the Marshall Islands after the ship owner, Dalian Ocean Fishing Company Limited, stopped paying the salaries of the crew and failed to make provisions for refueling the ships. 

The DFA, through its Office for Migrant Workers’ Affairs and its Philippine Embassies in Australia, New Zealand and China lobbied hard with the authorities in Vanuatu, Marshall Islands and China, including with the Chinese Embassy in Manila. The shipowner later on made arrangements for the salaries of the crew and to refuel the ships to be able return to port in Dalian, China.

The Department said it will continue its repatriation efforts and assistance to all Filipino nationals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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