After two weeks of mandatory self-quarantine, 584 seafarers are ready to go home to their provinces; Stranded seafarers brought home through ‘Balik-Probinsya’

After two weeks of mandatory self-quarantine, 584 seafarers are ready to go home to their provinces
Alexandria Dennise San Juan April 29, 2020 https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/04/29/after-two-weeks-of-mandatory-self-quar...

Over 500 Filipino seafarers who have completed their 14-day mandatory quarantine period are set to go back home to their provinces, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Wednesday.

According to the DOTr, its “Seafarers Balik-Probinsya Program” is now in full-swing to assist a total of 584 seafarers who have been cleared of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to return home.

“The DOTr has already assisted two batches of repatriated and distressed seafarers. The first batch was composed of 305 seafarers, and the second was composed of 279 seafarers,” the Department said in a statement.

The sea-based overseas Filipino workers have been allowed to go home after the two-week mandatory self-quarantine in the quarantine vessels of 2GO Group Inc. setup by the government for repatriates to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Upon completing the quarantine, the DOTr said that seafarers will be issued an Authority to Travel permit from the Inter-Agency Task Force and will be booked and reserved 2GO ship tickets to confirm the schedule of travel back to their respective provinces.

After coordinating with 2GO, a medical team from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) will conduct Rapid Antibody Testing to seafarers in an authorized medical facility in the area.

The seafarers will be transported to Pier 4 in Port Area, Manila and, before checking in, authorities must assure that they passed the screening and testing protocols before boarding.

In line with the program, a Malasakit Help Desk has also been set up by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), PCG, and other concerned agencies, to assist in resolving the concerns of the seafarers.

The Seafarers Balik-Probinsya Program is a joint initiative of the DOTr, MARINA, PCG, PPA, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the Department of Health, the Bureau of Quarantine, concerned local government units, and the seafarers’ local manning agencies.

With its initial success, the Department assured that the program will accommodate more batches of returning seafarers within the coming days.

Stranded seafarers brought home through ‘Balik-Probinsya’
Raymond Carl Dela Cruz April 28, 2020 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1101283

MANILA – A number of Filipino seafarers stranded in different parts of the country due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic are now on their way home after the first two batches were assisted by the government through the “Balik-Probinsya” initiative.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) said the first batch of seafarers, which shipped out from Pier 4 at North Harbor, Manila on Monday, arrived at the Dumaguete Port on Tuesday afternoon and unloaded 23 stranded seafarers.

“The said seafarers, who disembarked from the vessel, are all residents of Dumaguete and were escorted by the concerned agencies to the port terminal to fill up forms, and thereafter, boarded a chartered bus to the designated hotel for testing,” MARINA said.

The same ship, operated by 2GO and dubbed St. Michael the Archangel, earlier brought home more seafarers at Pier 5 at the Cebu Port who were bound for Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and other parts of the provinces of Cebu and Bohol.

After a mandatory RT-PCR test for Covid-19, the seafarers were transferred into a bus booked by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for transport to various hotels for their required 14-day quarantine.

After leaving the Cebu Port, the ship transferred 46 seafarers to Lite Ferry 1 bound for Tagbilaran City, Bohol before arriving at the Dumaguete Port.

The first batch, onboard St. Michael the Archangel, was composed of 305 seafarers bound for Bohol, Cebu, Dumaguete, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Negros Oriental, Ozamiz, Zamboanga City, and Zamboanga del Sur, MARINA said.

The second batch, it said, was made up of 281 seafarers going to Aklan, Antique, Bacolod, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Misamis Oriental, and Negros Oriental and left Manila aboard 2GO vessel St. Leo the Great on Monday afternoon.

The Balik-Probinsya initiative was organized by the Malasakit Help Desk for Filipino Seafarers composed of the Department of Transportation, MARINA, the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Ports Authority, OWWA, Bureau of Quarantine, local government units, and the seafarers’ local manning agencies.

“The Balik-Probinsya is in line with the whole-of-government approach, ensuring the safety and well-being of both land-based and sea-based OFWs,” MARINA said. (PNA)