By Tara Yap
Iloilo City— The last batch of Chinese tourists who flew in to Aklan with the intention of visiting Boracay have flown back to Wuhan, the Chinese city that is the epicenter of the novel coronavirus (nCoV).
Eric Apolonio, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) spokesperson, confirmed that the remaining 150 passengers have flown out of Kalibo International Airport in Kalibo town, Aklan province before 9 p.m. Monday (Jan. 27).
In all, 634 tourists were sent back to Wuhan in four batches starting Thursday (Jan. 23).
Despite Wuhan’s lockdown, the airlines have the clearance to repatriate the foreigners because they are residents of the city.
Apolonio told Manila Bulletin Monday night that the last batch of Chinese tourists left via Royal Air, one of the two airlines that have flights between Kalibo and Wuhan and that cater to tourists bound for Boracay.
Apolonio also said the same Royal Air Charter plane will fly back to the country after transporting the 150 Chinese passengers as it is a Philippine-registered plane.
“Only the pilots and cabin crew on board will fly back,” Apolonio added.
It was also in Kalibo where three Chinese tourists were quarantined earlier after arriving from Wuhan. A Filipina flight attendant also underwent self-quarantine.
Amid false information circulating in Aklan province, the Department of Health (DOH) and the Aklan Provincial Health Office (APPO) reiterated that none of the Chinese tourists who were quarantined tested positive for the 2019-nCov.