600 homecoming seafarers arrive at NAIA

600 homecoming seafarers arrive at NAIA
June 9, 2020 https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/06/09/600-homecoming-seafarers-arrive-at-naia/

More than 600 Filipino seafarers arrived on Monday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the DFA said.

A total of 306 Filipino seafarers arrived from Norway at 4 p.m. on Monday.

“A total of 306 Filipino seafarers of Viking Cruises from Norway will soon be reunited with their loved ones. The DFA credits another successful repatriation to the strong Bayanihan spirit that unites us in these challenging times,” the DFA said in a Twitter post.

The crew were welcomed by DFA and other government officials as well as representatives of the seafarers’ local manning agencies Magsaysay Maritime Corporation, Wilhelmsen-Smith Bell Manning, Inc. and Multinational Maritime Inc.

The seafarers were repatriated through the efforts of Viking Cruises and the Philippine Embassy in Oslo, it added.

Another 329 seafarers who served as crew of the Liberty of the Seas also arrived from the US an hour later at 5 p.m.

“True to its #AssistanceToNationals mandate, the DFA tirelessly assisted in the safe return of 329 Filipino seafarers from the USA. In the midst of a crippling pandemic, rest assured of the DFA’s unwavering commitment to assisting Filipinos all over the world, whenever possible,” DFA said.

DFA officials, other government officials, and representatives of the manning agency RCCL Crew Management Inc. joined in welcoming the repatriates.

The crew were repatriated through the efforts of Royal Caribbean Cruises and the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC.

DFA assured that all repatriated OFWs went through medical protocols and will undergo 14-day quarantine as directed by the Department of Health-Bureau of Quarantine.

The Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs on Sunday said the DFA has assisted more than 36,000 stranded or distressed Filipinos from all over the world since the outbreak of the pandemic began more than three months ago.

Of the repatriated Filipinos, more than 22,000 are seafarers while over 13,000 are land-based workers.

According to Sarah Arriola of OUMWA, more than 40,000 more, mostly seafarers, are expected to be repatriated back to the country soon but on a calibrated system to avoid congestion in designated government quarantine centers. (With a report from Roy Mabasa)