A total of 373 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Singapore and Japan touched down at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) on Tuesday onboard three separate commercial flights.
The first to arrive was Jetstar Asia 3K 761 from Singapore with 147 OFWs, majority of whom are females, including five pregnant women who are expected to give birth next month.
The flight was followed by Singapore Airlines SQ 910 carrying 194 OFWs, then followed by Japan Airlines Flight JAL 741 that flew in from Narita, Japan, carrying 32 passengers.
The 373 OFWs underwent swab tests after Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) personnel collected yellow health cards containing vital information of every passenger who then proceeded to the immigration counters for stamping of passports and where they waited for their transport to bring them to a nearby hotel.
The OFWs would have to wait for the results of the test that will take about three to five days. After that, the BOQ will issue certification that the passenger is negative for Covid-19 before they will be allowed to go home.
Those that tested positive will be brought to a quarantine site.
Jem Paguio, 31 of Antipolo City and a restaurant manager in Singapore, said that she and his longtime boyfriend were about to get married on March 28, 2020, “but we postponed the wedding due to lockdown imposed by Manila. We plan to get married next year.”
The five pregnant women are expected to give birth in June and July this year. “At last we can go home,” they said. The women were identified as Cielo Calderon, 31, of Las Piñas City, Donna Doligol, 30, of Surigao, Cherrie Baron, 30 of Iloilo, Danica Allen Villon 31, of Pasig and another one from Iloilo is expected to give birth next month.
Meanwhile, the 32 OFWs onboard Japan Airlines Flight JAL 741 were found to have expired visas.
The Media Affairs Division of the Manila International Airport Authority said that seven commercial flights are scheduled to depart Naia terminal on Tuesday.
These flights are Jetstar 3K 762 Manila to Singapore, Singapore Airlines Flight SQ 917 back to Singapore, China Airlines Flight CI 704 from Manila to Taipei, Qatar Airways QR 933 to Doha, Sky Ancher (ZA) 493 Manila to Cambodia, Air India 1375 from Manila then back to India, Asiana Airlines and Korean Airlines from Manila to Incheon, South Korea.
Philippine Coast Guard Cmdr. Mar Ventura said they were tasked to assist the BOQ to collect health card, aid in swab testing, ccompany the OFW to immigration counters for clearing and finally “to escort them to their transportation that will bring them to quarantine in designated hotels.