By Ariel Fernandez Some 264 Filipino seafarers working for two different ships owned by US-based Carnival Cruise Line arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 on the morning of May 4, Monday. The seafarers arrived around 5 a.m., via chartered planes courtesy of United Philippines Lines (UPL). They were subjected to tests for COVID-19, on top of the usual immigration procedures. The 264 seafarers boarded buses provided by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for Pier 15, which will be their temporary quarantine area for 14 days. These seafarers are the last to be accepted by the task force because they are running out of quarantine sites. But thousands more seafarers are waiting to be airlifted back home, while others are already aboard ships bound for Cavite and Manila Bay. The government imposed another flight suspension effective May 3. Filipino seafarers who were identified only as Jiggy and Cathy, who both came from Spain onboard a Carnival cruise ship, said they are so happy and excited to be back home after months of staying on their ships with nothing to do. UPL representative Alberto Acenas welcomed and assisted the recently arrived seafarers. Working with the PCG, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, UPL will provide assistance to the repatriated seafarers throughout their 14-day quarantine required by the government. More seafarers are coming home, aboard different ships, Acenas said. He is hopeful that they will arrive within the next few weeks.