DFA welcomes 668 Pinoy seafarers; number of repatriates breaches 13,000

The number of Filipinos repatriated amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has reached more than 13,000 as 668 sailors were welcomed home by the Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday.

The arrival of the repatriates brings the total number of Filipinos who safely returned home to the country to 13,638.

In a statement, the DFA said the 668 overseas Filipino workers, composed of 228 from Costa Fascinosa and 440 from Norwegian Getaway arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Monday afternoon.

The DFA said the Philippine Embassies in Brasilia and Washington D.C. facilitated the return of the crew members.

The repatriates underwent the required medical protocols supervised by the Bureau of Quarantine, Bureau of Immigration, Philippine National Police and local manning agency Magsaysay before being brought to their designated quarantine facilities.

Earlier, the DFA said a batch of 822 Filipino crew members from the United States and Barbados also arrived in the country.

The DFA said repatriates were composed of crew members from MS Norwegian Epic, MS Marina and MS Norwegian Spirit.

The seafarers also underwent mandatory quarantine inspection and briefing under the BOQ.

The crew members of MS Norwegian Epic and MS Marino will undergo a 14-day facility-based quarantine, while sailors of the MS Norwegian Spirit will undergo home quarantine due to the separate assessments made by the BOQ.

Latest data from the DFA showed that a total of 660 Filipinos abroad have tested positive for COVID-19, including 84 fatalities and 192 recoveries. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News