The first batch of Filipinos who availed of the government's repatriation program for Filipinos within 50 kilometers of a quake-crippled nuclear plant in Japan arrived in Manila Sunday afternoon.

At least 44 Filipinos accompanied by Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 at 1:18 p.m., radio dzBB's Rodil Vega reported.

Welcoming the Filipinos was Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, the report said.

Lopez said there are still many Filipinos living within 100 kilometers of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant, which was crippled by a magnitude-9 quake and tsunami last March 11.

The dzBB report quoted one of the returning Filipinos — who had three children with her — as saying that they feared for their health because of the effect of the quake on the nuclear plant. - KBK, GMA News