317 Filipinos repatriated from Lebanon

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 317 Filipinos from Lebanon have returned to the Philippines via a special chartered flight, Malacañang said.

The 317 repatriates arrived in Manila on Saturday as part of the Philippine government’s twin repatriation and goodwill missions to Lebanon.

“The twin missions demonstrate the continuing commitment of the Philippine Government to assist Filipinos who wish to return home as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges, as well as the solidarity of the Filipino nation with the Lebanese people,” a Malacanang statement said.

The two-day mission also included the delivery of food supplies for Filipinos in Lebanon and the turnover of medical supplies to Lebanese groups and hospitals.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the mission following his first address before the United Nations General Assembly last Sept. 22, Palace said.

In his speech, the President made mention of migrant workers as among the most affected by the pandemic who remain “in the frontlines, healing, caring for others in the different parts of the world.”

Since December last year, the Philippine government has repatriated a total of 2,596 Filipinos in Lebanon.

Some 193,000 Filipinos from around the world have returned to the country since February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.