354 Filipinos repatriated from Dubai arrive home

  DUBAI – Some 354 Filipinos arrived in Manila on Thursday (July 1) after they were repatriated from Dubai on a flight chartered by the Philippine government. Repatriates checked in as early as 4pm on Wednesday (June 30) at the newly reopened Dubai Airport Terminal 1 for Philippine Airlines flight PR8659 ahead of its scheduled departure at 8:50pm. Watch it here: The repatriation flight was chartered by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) with the help of the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Philippine Consulate in Dubai. “It’s been very smooth. People are cooperative and we have a system in place,” Cynthia Pelayo, Consul and First Secretary, told Expatmedia.net. Pelayo said they are awaiting “confirmation from Manila” on upcoming repatriation flights. A source told Expatmedia.net that at least five repatriation flights are scheduled in July, with four chartered by DFA and one chartered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). More details here At Dubai International Airport, a team from the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, led by Consul Pelayo, along with officials from the Philippine Consulate, Assistance to Nationals case officers, Philippine Overseas Labor Office, OWWA and Department of Social Welfare and Development were on hand to see the departure of the repatriates. Philippine Labor Attache Felicitas Bay and Philippine Embassy Abu Dhabi’s Assistance to Nationals case officer Coleen Marie Jariol were among those at the airport to ensure that the repatriates have a smooth trip. Several of the repatriates were given snacks from Chicking and a gift from Dubai-based budget department store Zaharat Al Sharq. “I know a lot of stranded Filipinos want to go home and we are very grateful to our government for helping and finding a way to bring home our kababayans,” Ericson Reyes, President of the Filipino Social Club, told Expatmedia.net. Currently, the Philippines is imposing an extended travel ban on passengers from the UAE and six other countries until July 15, however, passengers on repatriation flights are excluded from the ban and can return to the Philippines. ICA/Expat Media ALSO READ: How to register for repatriation flight from UAE

In pictures

Philippine Embassy’s Assistance to Nationals case officer Coleen Marie Jariol guides a Filipino passenger.
Assistance to Nationals case officers keep an eye on the repatriation process at Dubai International Airport.
Consul and First Secretary Cynthia Pelayo (left) with Philippine Labor Attache Felicitas Bay.
The team from the Philippine Consulate General.
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