Almost 160 stranded Filipino tourists, workers in Japan repatriated after two months

June 1, 2020

Around 160 Filipino tourists, workers and students were finally repatriated to Manila from Japan after being stranded for nearly two months due to flight cancellations caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo said Monday.

Passengers have been stranded due to multiple flight cancellations, limited airline seat availability, or prohibitive airfare rebooking costs.

They were provided welfare and financial aid, especially tourists and students who came to Japan on a limited budget, said Deputy Chief of Mission Robespierre Bolivar.

The Filipinos departed from Narita International Airport via a Cebu Pacific chartered flight arranged by the embassy, the Philippine consulates general in Osaka and Nagoya, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Tokyo.

"Upon arrival in Manila, the repatriates will undergo mandatory testing and facility quarantine in accordance with existing Philippine government guidelines," Bolivar said.Since February, a total of 31,528 overseas Filipinos affected by the COVID-19 outbreak have been repatriated by the DFA. DMS