PASAY CITY 27 July 2021 — The Department of Foreign Affairs welcomed the arrival of 345 stranded overseas Filipinos from Oman today. According to the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, this is the first special chartered flight mounted by the Department from this GCC country.
“The increased number of stranded OFWs in the country prompted our Embassy in Muscat, Oman to request for a chartered repatriation flight,” stated Undersecretary Sarah Lou Y. Arriola.
“The extension of the IATF pronouncement covering countries with Delta variant also triggered the increased number of OFWs leading the Department to take a quick action to remedy the situation,” added the Undersecretary.
The Tuesday morning PAL flight included 10 minors. All but five of the cohort are land based workers.
“The DFA, our Embassy in Muscat, our Desk officers, and our special repatriation unit all did a splendid job making the repatriation happen. We would like to thank Oman for its support and cooperation, which is a testament to our strong bilateral relations,” stated Assistant Secretary Enrico T. Fos.
Upon arrival, the repatriates underwent the appropriate medical protocols as required by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Bureau of Quarantine. They would also be required to undergo a 14-day facility-based quarantine in accordance with the guidelines established by the Interagency Task Force.
In addition to their flight home, free quarantine facility and swab test provided by the government, all repatriates were able to receive USD200 as reintegration assistance in line with the instructions of President Duterte and as recommended by the DFA Secretary Locsin.
“The Department will continue to address the situation in Oman. Two (2) more repatriation flights are scheduled this 10 and 25 of August, congruent with the Department’s continuing commitment to bring home our Kababayans amidst the travel restriction due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic,” concluded Undersecretary Arriola.
The Philippine Embassy in Muscat will continue to accept applications for the scheduled DFA repatriations in Oman.
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs Republic of Philippines