Filipinos in UAE thank Locsin on push to lift travel limit for returning OFWs

  DUBAI – Filipinos in the UAE thanked Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin for pushing the Philippine government to lift the travel limit on Filipinos arriving in the Philippines. Locsin, who was in Dubai recently for bilateral talks with his counterpart at Expo 2020 Dubai, had said in a series of tweets that Philippine airports must be allowed to increase passenger capacity in order to welcome a maximum number of returning Filipinos. Filipino Social Club President Ericson Reyes echoed the Filipino community's sentiments towards the Philippine government's support for Overseas Filipino Workers in the UAE, particularly during the pandemic. “We thank Mr. Locsin and the Department of Foreign Affairs for their work and unwavering support in bringing home Overseas Filipino Workers during the pandemic,” Reyes told Expatmedia.net. He also thanked the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Philippine Consulate in Dubai for their concerted efforts. Reyes talked to Locsin on the sidelines of the official’s recent visit to Expo 2020 Dubai. The Filipino Social Club leader expressed the group’s willingness to support the Philippine government’s programs to benefit the Filipino community in the UAE.

Passenger limit caused air ticket prices to skyrocket, says Locsin

Meanwhile, Locsin said that the limit on passenger arrivals at Philippine airports has caused airfare to surge up to “$7,000 for economy, denying them means to go home for Christmas”. Currently, only 4,000 international passengers are allowed to enter the Philippines through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as part of precautionary measures against Covid-19. “Only help is to increase flights to our Manila, Clark, Subic and Cebu airports for all international airlines and lift the cap on arrivals especially for returning OFWs,” Locsin said. It is not clear if and when the travel cap will be lifted. However, as of Monday (November 22), the Philippines began an updated quarantine and testing protocols for all travelers arriving from international destinations. Under the new guidelines, fully vaccinated Filipinos and foreigners from green list countries, which includes the UAE, will no longer need to undergo quarantine on arrival but must present a negative RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to their travel. Passengers from red list countries will not be allowed to enter the Philippines regardless of their vaccination status. However, Filipinos from these countries who are coming home on repatriation flights or Bayanihan flights are exempted but must observe a 10-day quarantine on arrival. ICA/Expat Media
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