The Department of Foreign Affairs said the repatriation of distressed Filipinos abroad will resume once the airports in the country reopen.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola advised overseas Filipinos who are intending to return to the Philippines but were affected by the temporary closure of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and need assistance to get in touch with the Philippine Embassy or Consulate nearest them.
“The DFA, through its over 90 Philippine Embassies and Consulates abroad, stands ready to assist stranded OFWs due the temporary closure of the airport," Arriola said in a statement.
She also advised affected Filipinos abroad to check with their airlines as to schedule and rebooking of flights.
"To date, the DFA has facilitated the repatriation of 24,422, of which 16,936 are seafarers and 7,486 are land based workers," the DFA official said.
Arriola disclosed that approximately 20,000 overseas Filipino workers are undergoing mandatory quarantine in Metro Manila as of Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration said that arrival and departure of passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals dropped to almost 80 percent in the month of April following the government’s suspension of international flights due to the COVID 19 outbreak.
In April, the BI recorded 41,249 arrivals and 23,187 departures at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals 1,2 and 3.
“Most of those who arrived are Filipinos including overseas workers, and their families, while majority of those who left the country are foreign nationals who wished to go back to their home countries,” he said.
“This number is a far cry from the usual more than half a million arrivals and departures that we used to see monthly,” he added.
The BI also expects a decrease in arrivals and departures in the coming days following the announcement of the Manila International Airport Authority that all commercial flights to and from the Philippines will be suspended starting May 3.
The decision was made by the National Task Force Against COVID-19
Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., to help slow down the further spread of the virus.
The MIAA likewise reported that cargo flights, as well as medical supplies, utility and maintenance flights will continue operation, subject to protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force in the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the move is essential in further slowing down the spread of the virus, as well as giving the country more time to increase its capacities in managing the disease.
Morente said that he is hopeful that the travel industry will bounce back once the crisis is over, but believes that the temporary travel restriction set by the government is “a necessary sacrifice” and adds that the BI is ready to implement any restriction in the international movement of people, following the direction of the IATF.
He clarified that travel restrictions remain in place, and only Filipinos, their spouse and children, as well as diplomats are allowed to enter the country, while foreign nationals, OFWs, permanent resident and student visa holders abroad are allowed to depart.
Currently, Immigration Officers deployed at the airports are on reduced operations following the suspension of operations of all international airports nationwide.
