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Pinoy Abroad

Pinoys repatriated from Macau begin boarding flight back to Manila


Repatriated Filipinos from coronavirus-hit Macau have begun boarding the flight back to Manila, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido Dulay said Saturday.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the repatriates will board a chartered Air Macau flight.

Earlier reports state that the initial number of 167 repatriates is composed of 137 undocumented and irregular Filipino workers and 30 Filipino workers who are members of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

However, the Department of Health on Saturday said there are only 162 repatriates.

 

 

 

 

The repatriates were assisted by officials from the DFA-Philippine Consulate General in Macau.

 

 

Upon arrival in the Philippines, the repatriates will undergo an assessment, Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press conference on Saturday.

"[T]itignan kung sino sa kanila ang merong sintomas. Kung sino sa kanila ang merong sintomas, may mga nakahanda po tayong mga ambulansya doon po sa ating area. Dadalhin na sila sa ating referral facilities," she said.

"'Yun naman pong walang sintomas, ia-advise po sila for home quarantine," she added.

Once other processes that involve OWWA and the DFA are finished, the repatriates will be allowed to go home.

"When they get home, there is this monitoring scheme kung saan katulong naman natin ang ating local government units and, of course, OWWA, para ipatupad po natin at masiguro natin na magqua-quarantine itong ating mga kababayan," Vergeire said.

The Philippines is currently implementing a travel ban to China and its special administrative regions Macau and Hong Kong. —Joahna Lei Casilao/KG, GMA News