DOH: Filipinos on cruise ship to be repatriated on Sunday, to be quarantined at NCC
By Analou De Vera
The Department of Health (DOH) announced that Filipinos onboard the M/V Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama, Japan will be repatriated on Sunday (Feb. 23).
Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (CZAR DANCEL / MANILA BULLETIN)
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said some 500 Filipinos are set to return to the country on Sunday.
"The exact time is being determined by the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) as they are coordinating the repatriation with their counterpart in Japan and with the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Labor," Duque told reporters.
"We will have to await the exact time that they will be flown out and their arrival in Clark Airbase Haribon Hangar. I was told that there will be two planes that will bring in our compatriots, but they are not arriving at the same time. I think there will be some two or three hours difference between the two arrivals," he added.
Duque said the repatriation was originally scheduled on Feb. 25 but was moved to an earlier date.
"The Japanese government has already decided that they will close down the ship. We are getting this information from Usec. Dulay. But we really have to bring them out as soon as possible," he said.
The Athletes' Village in New Clark City (NCC) in Capas, Tarlac will serve as the quarantine site of the returning Filipinos, where they will be monitored for 14 days for symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
"The IATF (Inter-agency Task Force) already unanimously decided that the NCC will be the accommodation of choice which will be temporarily used as the quarantine facility for 14 days," Duque said.
"Second, the President himself, during the meeting with the local chief executives on Monday last week, said that it will be the national government in the end will make the decision with regard to the repatriation of our compatriots."
The repatriates will undergo the same protocol used for those Filipinos who were repatriated from Wuhan, China, Duque said. "It is going to be basically the same because the Wuhan City repatriation plan has been successfully implemented. But with some adjustments ostensibly because of the number."
Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (CZAR DANCEL / MANILA BULLETIN)
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said some 500 Filipinos are set to return to the country on Sunday.
"The exact time is being determined by the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) as they are coordinating the repatriation with their counterpart in Japan and with the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Labor," Duque told reporters.
"We will have to await the exact time that they will be flown out and their arrival in Clark Airbase Haribon Hangar. I was told that there will be two planes that will bring in our compatriots, but they are not arriving at the same time. I think there will be some two or three hours difference between the two arrivals," he added.
Duque said the repatriation was originally scheduled on Feb. 25 but was moved to an earlier date.
"The Japanese government has already decided that they will close down the ship. We are getting this information from Usec. Dulay. But we really have to bring them out as soon as possible," he said.
The Athletes' Village in New Clark City (NCC) in Capas, Tarlac will serve as the quarantine site of the returning Filipinos, where they will be monitored for 14 days for symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
"The IATF (Inter-agency Task Force) already unanimously decided that the NCC will be the accommodation of choice which will be temporarily used as the quarantine facility for 14 days," Duque said.
"Second, the President himself, during the meeting with the local chief executives on Monday last week, said that it will be the national government in the end will make the decision with regard to the repatriation of our compatriots."
The repatriates will undergo the same protocol used for those Filipinos who were repatriated from Wuhan, China, Duque said. "It is going to be basically the same because the Wuhan City repatriation plan has been successfully implemented. But with some adjustments ostensibly because of the number."