28,000 seafarers can go home

28,000 sailors can go home
Genivi Factao May 13, 2020 https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/05/13/news/top-stories/28000-sailors-ca...

MORE than 28,000 seafarers stranded in Manila can finally return to their provinces, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) said.

Marina Administrator Adm. Robert Empedrad said seafarers cleared by the Bureau of Quarantine could verify with the agency if they could get seats in chartered flights made available by Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Air Asia.

“At least 180 passengers can be accommodated in a plane. There are ‘mercy flights’ for overseas Filipino workers and seafarers that began on Tuesday,” he said.

PAL Express on Tuesday offered flights to Davao for P5,000 per passenger exclusive of airport fees and taxes, Cebu for P4,000 per head and Bacolod for P5,400 per head.

Air Asia also scheduled a chartered flight from Manila to Davao for P4,000 per head.

Another chartered flight to Cebu was set at P5,000 per person.

The maritime agency has released the list of seafarers cleared by the Quarantine bureau. Seafarers can coordinate with their respective companies to arrange for their transportation going to their hometowns via air, sea and land, or via private cars.

There were 28,443 repatriated seafarers as of May 8, according to the data released by the Marina Malasakit Help Desk.

It added that 27,272 seafarers were awaiting repatriation, of which 25,131 would be repatriated by air while the remaining 2,141 would be sent home by sea.

“A total of 673 stranded and distressed seafarers were already sent to their provinces to reunite with their loved ones through 2GO vessels,” Marina said.

Meanwhile, there were 40,812 seafarers who were registered in the Covid-19 Seafarers Online Monitoring.