The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) capped a series of repatriations by welcoming home in Manila a total of 123 Filipino seafarers from Spain.
The said repatriates, composed of 64 crew of Marella Celebration and 59 crew of MV World Odyssey, form the fourth batch of Filipino crew that have returned home, the DFA said in a news statement.
Earlier on Friday, 454 crew from Norwegian Dawn and Star and another 446 crew members of Armonia, Meraviglia, Seaside and Divina cruise ships arrived in Manila, and another 79 seafarers from Carnival Pride, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Breeze, and MS World Odyssey arrived in Clark.
The DFA, through the Philippine Embassy in Madrid, in coordination with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the local manning agencies, made the arrangements for the repatriation.
Representatives of OWWA, Department of Health (DOH), Department of Tourism (DOT), Bureau of Quarantine (BoQ) and Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa), joined in welcoming the repatriates.
All 123 Filipinos underwent the appropriate medical protocols as required by the DOH and BoQ. The repatriates will also undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine.