More than 300 Filipino workers from UAE brought home

More than 300 overseas Filipino workers have returned to the Philippines from the United Arab Emirates through the national government's repatriation program.

According to GTV's 24 Oras News Alert report on Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs brought home more than 300 OFWs, including around 100 pregnant women, via chartered flight.

In a statement, the DFA said the Philippine Airlines flight carrying 348 OFWs from UAE arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on Thursday morning.

"The 348 passengers all tested negative in the RT-PCR conducted 48 hours before the flight," it added.

The repatriated OFWs could not return earlier due to the Philippine government's ban on incoming travelers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.

Malacañang extended the travel ban enforced on the seven countries until July 15 as a precautionary measure against the more transmissible Delta variant. 

More flights in July

In the same DFA statement, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs Enrico Fos said there are chartered flights scheduled to leave UAE on July 12, 17, 26 and 30 for the evacuation of more distressed OFWs affected by the travel ban.

"The July 12 flight is especially for those distressed in the Abu Dhabi region while the rest of the flights are for our distressed kababayan in the Dubai area," Fos added.

All repatriates will undergo 14-day quarantine in a government facility upon arrival in Manila to ensure health protocols are being followed. — Consuelo Marquez/BM, GMA News