Repatriation for Pinoy ship passengers readied
Published Feb 19, 2020 12:00 am
By Analou De Vera
The Philippine government is already finalizing the voluntary repatriation plans for all the asymptomatic Filipino passengers of M/V Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama, Japan.
Health Assistant Secretary Maria Vergeire (Facebook)
The Department of Health (DOH) bared this Wednesday, the same day that relieved passengers began leaving the coronavirus-wracked cruise ship in Japan after testing negative for the disease that has now claimed more than 2,000 lives in China.
“The Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) resolved that all Filipino passengers and crew of the M/V Diamond Princess who will request repatriation will be accommodated by the Philippine government in accordance with the guidelines set by the DOH,” said Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire during a press briefing at the DOH-Central Office in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
Asked when the arrangements will be finalized, the health official said, “It's not going to be next week or the week after. It's going to be soon... in the coming days.”
Vergeire reported that 40 Filipino crew members of M/V Diamond Princess cruise ship have been tested positive for the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is now in constant communication with the Japanese government with regards to the planned repatriation, said Vergeire.
“Ever since last week, our government has already been coordinating with the government of Japan... as well as we sat down with the M/V Diamond Princess handler here already to negotiate our terms... paano talaga gagawin itong pag repatriate ,” she said.
In coordination with the Japanese government and the management of Princess Cruises, the Philippine embassy said it is finalizing the details, logistics, and schedule of the repatriation of Filipino crew and passengers onboard the M/V Diamond Princess following the lapse of the Japanese government-imposed quarantine today, February 19.
“All Filipino crewmembers and passengers who are cleared for disembarkation from the vessel will be assisted by the Embassy and Princess Cruises, and will be repatriated back to the Philippines at the soonest possible time,” it said.
But Filipinos who are still in hospital for treatment will only be repatriated as soon as they will be given the necessary medical clearance.
As of this writing, Vergeire could not yet give the exact number of Filipinos who will be repatriated from the M/V Diamond Princess cruise ship.
“As to how many, hindi pa natin alam kasi fina-finalize pa natin doon sa cruise ship and government of Japan kung ilan talaga yung uuwi because of the testing, because of the assessment,” she said.
“So the numbers will be really final after the test and assessments are completed,” she added.
Moreover, the quarantine site for the Filipinos who are set to return here is still being discussed.
“There were facilities that were discussed and identified but we still cannot provide the exact facility where they will be brought because we still need to do some coordination and the process would need to be finalized,” said Vergeire.
Vergeire noted that those who will manifest flu-like symptoms will not be allowed to board the flight.
“Katulad ng lagi natin sinasabi...lahat po ng ire-repatriate natin should be asymptomatic, ibig sabihin walang sintomas . They should test negative bago sila sumakay doon sa chartered plane natin o kung ano man carrier ang gagamitin natin ,” said Vergeire.
Vergeire said that the employer of the Filipino crew members of M/V Diamond Princess will shoulder their repatriation.
“Because of the existing contracts of these employees, the employer would be the one to fund the cost of their airplane travel or whatever so that they can be brought home and accommodated here in the Philippines," she said.
The Philippine government will shoulder the medical services needed by the repatriates.
As this developed, the Filipino crew member of M/V Diamond Princess who was earlier tested positive for COVID-19 is set to be discharged from the hospital today, February 19, the Philippine embassy in Tokyo said in a statement.
According to the embassy, the Filipino patient was admitted to the hospital on February 5 and has been successfully treated.
READ MORE: Infected Filipino crew of Diamond Princess recovers
Based on the embassy’s figures, a total of 40 Filipinos had tested positive for COVID-19 and are in separate medical facilities in and around Tokyo.
This number includes a new group of six Filipinos who tested positive for the virus Wednesday.
Meanwhile, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) returning to China’s administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau will be required to execute a declaration stating they are aware of the risks posed by the COVID-19, the DFA said on Wednesday.
This development came following the partial lifting of the travel ban imposed on all Filipino nationals as an offshoot of the COVID-19 outbreak that originated in Wuhan City. (With reports from Roy C. Mabasa and AFP)
Health Assistant Secretary Maria Vergeire (Facebook)
The Department of Health (DOH) bared this Wednesday, the same day that relieved passengers began leaving the coronavirus-wracked cruise ship in Japan after testing negative for the disease that has now claimed more than 2,000 lives in China.
“The Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) resolved that all Filipino passengers and crew of the M/V Diamond Princess who will request repatriation will be accommodated by the Philippine government in accordance with the guidelines set by the DOH,” said Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire during a press briefing at the DOH-Central Office in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
Asked when the arrangements will be finalized, the health official said, “It's not going to be next week or the week after. It's going to be soon... in the coming days.”
Vergeire reported that 40 Filipino crew members of M/V Diamond Princess cruise ship have been tested positive for the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is now in constant communication with the Japanese government with regards to the planned repatriation, said Vergeire.
“Ever since last week, our government has already been coordinating with the government of Japan... as well as we sat down with the M/V Diamond Princess handler here already to negotiate our terms... paano talaga gagawin itong pag repatriate ,” she said.
In coordination with the Japanese government and the management of Princess Cruises, the Philippine embassy said it is finalizing the details, logistics, and schedule of the repatriation of Filipino crew and passengers onboard the M/V Diamond Princess following the lapse of the Japanese government-imposed quarantine today, February 19.
“All Filipino crewmembers and passengers who are cleared for disembarkation from the vessel will be assisted by the Embassy and Princess Cruises, and will be repatriated back to the Philippines at the soonest possible time,” it said.
But Filipinos who are still in hospital for treatment will only be repatriated as soon as they will be given the necessary medical clearance.
As of this writing, Vergeire could not yet give the exact number of Filipinos who will be repatriated from the M/V Diamond Princess cruise ship.
“As to how many, hindi pa natin alam kasi fina-finalize pa natin doon sa cruise ship and government of Japan kung ilan talaga yung uuwi because of the testing, because of the assessment,” she said.
“So the numbers will be really final after the test and assessments are completed,” she added.
Moreover, the quarantine site for the Filipinos who are set to return here is still being discussed.
“There were facilities that were discussed and identified but we still cannot provide the exact facility where they will be brought because we still need to do some coordination and the process would need to be finalized,” said Vergeire.
Vergeire noted that those who will manifest flu-like symptoms will not be allowed to board the flight.
“Katulad ng lagi natin sinasabi...lahat po ng ire-repatriate natin should be asymptomatic, ibig sabihin walang sintomas . They should test negative bago sila sumakay doon sa chartered plane natin o kung ano man carrier ang gagamitin natin ,” said Vergeire.
Vergeire said that the employer of the Filipino crew members of M/V Diamond Princess will shoulder their repatriation.
“Because of the existing contracts of these employees, the employer would be the one to fund the cost of their airplane travel or whatever so that they can be brought home and accommodated here in the Philippines," she said.
The Philippine government will shoulder the medical services needed by the repatriates.
As this developed, the Filipino crew member of M/V Diamond Princess who was earlier tested positive for COVID-19 is set to be discharged from the hospital today, February 19, the Philippine embassy in Tokyo said in a statement.
According to the embassy, the Filipino patient was admitted to the hospital on February 5 and has been successfully treated.
READ MORE: Infected Filipino crew of Diamond Princess recovers
Based on the embassy’s figures, a total of 40 Filipinos had tested positive for COVID-19 and are in separate medical facilities in and around Tokyo.
This number includes a new group of six Filipinos who tested positive for the virus Wednesday.
Meanwhile, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) returning to China’s administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau will be required to execute a declaration stating they are aware of the risks posed by the COVID-19, the DFA said on Wednesday.
This development came following the partial lifting of the travel ban imposed on all Filipino nationals as an offshoot of the COVID-19 outbreak that originated in Wuhan City. (With reports from Roy C. Mabasa and AFP)