Filipino seafarers from Germany, US return to PH – DFA

Some 58 Filipino crew members of Panama-flagged Carnival Panorama arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport late Tuesday. Photo courtesy of DFA-OUMWA

MANILA, Philippines — Some 247 Filipino crew members of two cruise ships arrived in the Philippines on Wednesday from Germany.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the repatriates arrived via a chartered flight, which was contracted by the local manning agencies of the crew members.

The Filipino cruise ship workers underwent a mandatory inspection and briefing by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).

After the BOQ processing, the crew members boarded the buses provided by the local manning agencies for onward transportation to their respective quarantine facilities where they will undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

The Manila International Airport Authority’s medical division was also present to provide assistance to the repatriates.

“The DFA and its partner agencies continue to commit to a whole-of-government approach in providing assistance to overseas Filipinos amidst the COVID-19 pandemic,” the department said.

The DFA also welcomed 58 crew members of Panama-flagged Carnival Panorama late Tuesday.

Carnival Panorama was docked in Long Beach, California, since early March, when one of its passengers fell ill and was suspected of COVID-19 infection, the DFA noted.

The test result returned negative, it added.

All 58 cruise ship workers also underwent thorough mandatory inspection and quarantine protocols supervised by the BOQ before they were brought to their designated quarantine facilities.

The latest figures from the DFA showed that 569 overseas Filipinos have so far tested positive for COVID-19.

Of the number, 346 are still undergoing treatment while 158 have so far recovered or discharged from the hospital.

There are so far 65 recorded deaths.