DFA brings home 310 distressed Filipinos from Vietnam and Cambodia

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) brought home on Saturday 310 distressed Filipinos from Vietnam and Cambodia.

One hundred forty three of them arrived in Manila from Vietnam at past 4 p.m. aboard a chartered Philippine Airlines flight.

(1/3) The DFA, in its continuous effort to provide assistance to our nationals, chartered a PAL flight bringing home 143 distressed Filipinos from Vietnam. pic.twitter.com/0QpjpJzUEC

— DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) April 18, 2020

One hundred sixty seven meanwhile left Cambodia on a chartered AirAsia flight and landed in Manila at past 3 p.m.

Among the overseas Filipino workers who arrived from Cambodia was Miguelito dela Cruz, who was asked to vacate their staff house after the casino he was working for closed, the DFA said.

Other OFWs from Cambodia who took the flight suffered job loss, forced unpaid leaves, no-work-no-pay arrangements or loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic, or had visa-related concerns. Still others were tourists stranded after flights were canceled out of Cambodia.

TOUCH DOWN! The Phnom Penh-Manila chartered flight carrying 167 distressed OFWs & stranded Filipinos from Cambodia finally arrives in Manila this afternoon. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/K9jehIQCJW

— DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) April 18, 2020

The repatriation from Vietnam and Cambodia were done in coordination with the Philippine embassies, the DFA said.

It added that a total of 1,173 distressed Filipinos came home on Saturday, after 863 Filipino seafarers arrived from Miami in the morning.

"We will bring back distressed Filipinos wherever they are," DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said.

All repatriates had health screening from the Bureau of Quarantine upon arrival and were brought by the Philippine Coast Guard to their designated quarantine facility.

Once they finish their quarantine period, they will be allowed to return to their homes.

The flight from Vietnam also carried 160 kilograms of personal protective equipment (PPE) donated by the Pinoy sa Hanoi Group to hospitals in the country.

(2/3) Truly reflecting the Bayanihan Spirit, the chartered flight also transported various PPEs donated by “Pinoy sa Hanoi” Filipino group to various hospitals in the Philippines. pic.twitter.com/LCcKm0jkfT

— DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) April 18, 2020

The DFA said it is committed to assist Filipinos abroad who may want to return to the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. —KG, GMA News