148 Filipinos return home from South Korea amid COVID-19

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul has provided travel assistance to 148 Filipinos stranded in Korea due to intermittent schedule and frequent cancellation of international flights amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

In a statement on Tuesday, the DFA said the stranded Filipinos boarded the special Korean Air flight KE 623 which departed from Incheon International Airport at 6:45 p.m. on Sunday and landed in Manila at around 9:22 p.m.

The DFA said the special arrangement was made possible with the help of the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Transportation, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Manila International Airport Authorities and the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19.

Christian de Jesus, the Charge d’affaires, a.i., said the embassy continues to respond to the needs of Filipinos in Korea.

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the embassy has assisted 270 stranded Filipinos in Korea, both residents and transiting passengers at Incheon International Airport,” de Jesus said.

He added the special flight was initiated by the embassy following its survey of Filipinos in Korea who were looking for a special passenger flight.

“Many have already finished their employment contracts but could not go home because their flight bookings have been cancelled for as many as three to six times,” de Jesus said.

So far, the embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration have provided food packages to 470 individuals, hygiene and COVID-19 care kits to 1,770 Filipinos, meal assistance to 75 overseas Filipino workers stranded at the Incheon International Airport, and $200 DOLE AKAP cash aid each to 425 OFWs in Korea who were displaced from work or were unable to work due to the quarantine.

“With social distancing measures in place, we commemorate the Migrant Workers’ Day today in a different but equally meaningful way, by serving our migrant workers most in need and helping bring them home to their families,” de Jesus said. —LDF, GMA News