Repatriates from travel-ban covered Macau arrive in Manila

Filipinos repatriated from Macau landed in Manila, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced on Saturday afternoon.

According to the DFA, 163 repatriates were on board the chartered Air Macau flight.

Touch down! The chartered flight arranged by the Philippine Government carrying a total of 163 Filipinos from Macau has now landed in Manila. pic.twitter.com/no4tj2SYeT

— DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) March 7, 2020

In a press conference, Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the repatriates would be assessed on landing.

Those with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms would be brought to referral facilities while those with no symptoms would be advised to self-quarantine.

Due to the virus outbreak, the government had enforced a travel ban on China and its special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macau.

Palace thanks Macau authorities

Malacañang on Saturday thanked Macau authorities for assisting in the repatriation of the Filipinos.

"[W]e thank the authorities of Macau, in close coordination with the Philippine Consulate General in the aforesaid Special Administrative Region, for arranging this repatriation flight," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

"With the surge of news reports on the coronavirus disease 2019, the Philippine Government remains ready and is prepared in serving and protecting Filipinos here and abroad," he added.

According to the DFA, five Filipinos were unable to board the repatriation flight for "various reasons." — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News