Ninety-one distressed overseas Filipinos in Bahrain were recently repatriated to the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday, Oct. 11.
The repatriates included minors, pardoned detainees, overstaying overseas Filipinos, pregnant women, medical patients, and wards at the Embassy Shelter.
They arrived in the country on Oct. 6 via Gulf Air’s direct commercial flight.
"The Embassy facilitated the repatriation of distressed overseas Filipinos who have been stranded in Bahrain due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and negotiated with Gulf Air for a special ticket rate to allow more Filipino nationals to benefit from the repatriation program," the DFA said.
It added that the Embassy shouldered the airfare of 39 undocumented repatriates through the Assistance-to-Nationals Funds of the DFA.
According to the DFA, the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration coordinated with concerned agencies in the Philippines for the exemption of the repatriates from arrival limitations, as well as for the quarantine facilities for the repatriates.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen, with the assistance of Filipino doctor Christopher Hemady, conducted online medical consultations of 29 stranded Filipino seafarers aboard Hanrong 362, 366 and 369 in Dongshan County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province.
They were restricted to disembark due to current restrictions in China amid the pandemic.
Medicines and care packages were also given out to the stranded seafarers. They will receive the packages on Tuesday, Oct. 12 through their Chinese handlers.