DFA-DOH team leaving Saturday night to assist Filipinos leaving Wuhan

February 8, 2020

A team from the Department of Foreign Affairs ( DFA) is scheduled to fly Saturday night from Clark to Wuhan City to assist Filipinos to be repatriated from the epicenter of the 2019-nCoV ARD with medical personnel from the Department of Health ( DOH).

This was announced by the DFA in a press statement on Saturday.

The three-member Health Emergency Response Team (HERT), composed of  Rowell Casaclang, Abdul Rahman Pacasum, and Richard delos Santos from the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs (OUMWA), will be joined by five persons from the DOH.

They will be on a Royal Air flight arranged by the DFA after receiving clearance from Chinese authorities.

According to Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola, the team "is already experienced in repatriation operations, and has been briefed and prepared for this particular assignment. They will also undergo simulation exercise at Clark International Airport a day before the flight to ensure fast and efficient operation."

On the flight back to Clark, the DFA team will assist the repatriates to complete immigration documents, and other requirements.

On Sunday, upon arrival in Clark, the team will ensure orderly disembarkation and transfer to the Athletes’ Village in New Clark City, Tarlac which will be their home for the 14-day mandatory quarantine period.

The crew who manned the flight will likewise be subjected to the 14-day quarantine period. DMS