DFA serves Filipino repatriates with hot meals in Wuhan airport

Filipino repatriates at Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan City of China on Feb. 8. They will be repatriated amid the novel coronavirus outbreak which already killed hundreds of people in China. (Photo from the Department of Foreign Affairs)

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos who were stranded in Wuhan City in China during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus were given packed meals at the Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan City of China on Saturday as they were expected to return to the Philippines on Sunday.

In a tweet, Brigido Dulay, DFA undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns, said: “The DFA repatriation team from our Shanghai consulate now serving packed meals to the 26 repatriates at the Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan City while awaiting the arrival of other Filipinos.”

The DFA repatriation team from our Shanghai consulate now serving packed meals to the 26 repatriates at the Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan City while awaiting the arrival of other Filipinos. pic.twitter.com/9tQ1x7rrPI

— Dodo Dulay (@dododulay) February 8, 2020

Dulay earlier said that repatriates had started to arrive at the Wuhan airport. A total of 56 Filipinos, including four infants, will travel to the Philippines.

According to the Philippine Consulate General, over 300 Filipinos are living in Hubei province, of which 150 are in Wuhan City.

Aside from the DFA team, medical personnel from the Department of Health (DOH) were also assisting in the repatriation operations.

The DOH said their personnel would be monitoring if Filipinos from China has flu-like symptoms. However, those who are showing flu-like symptoms will not be allowed to fly back to the Philippines.

/atm