347 OFWs from UAE fly home on government-chartered flight

More than 300 Filipinos in the UAE were able to fly to Manila on Tuesday, on board a repatriation flight chartered by the Philippine government.

Providing relief to Filipino expats who needed to go home because of medical emergencies and other pressing issues, the Cebu Pacific flight took off at 3pm amid the Philippines’ extended ban on travellers coming from the UAE, Oman and a number of other countries.

Tuesday’s repatriation flight from Dubai— carrying 347 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) – was organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the country’s embassy in Abu Dhabi and the consulate-general in Dubai. The initiative was part of the government’s Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2, R.A. 11519).

“Aside from carrying OFWs who met difficulties during the pandemic, the flight also included medical patients, deportees, and some minor children,” the Philippine Embassy said in a statement

Officials from the Philippine missions oversaw the expats’ departure from Dubai International Airport.