Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 6) — A total of 35,411 overseas Filipinos have come home to the Philippines since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Saturday.
“Of this number, 61.68 percent (21,845 overseas Filipinos) are sea-based and 34.2 percent (13,566 overseas Filipinos) are land-based, with the most recent repatriates arriving from Japan and France yesterday,” the DFA said in a social media post.
DFA Assistant Secretary Ed Meñez said the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) expects a total of 48,042 overseas Filipinos to arrive this June.
“Composed of 33,815 sea-based overseas Filipino workers and 14,227 land-based overseas Filipinos, to be repatriated in the coming weeks,” Meñez said in a message.
The DFA said strict quarantine and testing procedures are being implemented for all arriving overseas Filipinos.
“Medical authorities will need to make an initial assessment before a person can be tested. If a determination is made to require a test, you will be tested for COVID-19 and your samples will be analyzed in the certified testing laboratories near you,” the DFA said Friday.
COVID-19 response chief implementer Carlito Galvez, Jr. said Monday the government is looking to accept up to 1,500 returning overseas Filipino workers a day, now that more quarantine facilities have been cleared with previous batches assisted back to their hometowns.
The government previously limited the number of passengers aboard repatriation flights to manage the volume of people in quarantine facilities.
The DFA reported Saturday eight more Filipinos abroad have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total to 5,369.
The DFA added that 13 more overseas Filipinos have recovered from the disease, bringing the total to 2,225, while two others have died, raising the death toll to 363.
Globally, more than 6.6 million people have caught COVID-19, while nearly 400,000 have died.
For the information of all OFWs and their families already here in the Philippines, there are now 53 government- certified laboratories/ facilities for COVID-19 testing as of 05 June 2020 across the different regions in the country. (1/6) pic.twitter.com/fNGsNNU7bz
— DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) June 6, 2020
The Department of Foreign Affairs assured that repatriation efforts continue, and requested overseas Filipinos who need government assistance to signify their interest to the nearest Embassies or Consulates General in their area.
