23 July 2020 – The Embassy of the Philippines in Kuala Lumpur and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) successfully repatriated another 351 stranded overseas Filipinos in Malaysia using a Cebu Pacific chartered flight that departed Kuala Lumpur for Manila this afternoon.

More than half of the repatriated Filipinos are composed of OFWs and their family members, while the rest are tourists and students who requested assistance from the Embassy after being stranded due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent cancellation of commercial flights. The flight included not only passengers from different states in Peninsular Malaysia, but also Filipinos from Sabah and Sarawak.

“Since the start of the pandemic, the Embassy and the DFA have facilitated the homecoming of 1,082 stranded Filipinos in Malaysia,” Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Charles C. Jose said. “We will continue to exert all possible efforts to help our kababayans return home to their families.”

This is the third mass repatriation conducted by the Embassy and the DFA using Philippine Government-funded chartered flights. The repatriated Filipinos did not have to pay for their tickets, which was an immense relief to those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic.

It may be recalled that the Embassy and the DFA also conducted mass repatriation efforts using chartered flights on April 28 and June 11. In addition, the Embassy coordinated two “special flights” on April 5 and May 30, and facilitated repatriation flights arranged by private companies for their Filipino employees, including seafarers, on June 2 and July 16 and 20.

"Maraming salamat po sa Philippine Embassy sa pagtulong sa amin na pabalik na ng Pilipinas dahil sa hirap na nararanamas namin gawa ng COVID at kawalan ng trabaho," said Ms. Mary Grace Nishimura, an OFW who is finally coming home after suffering from a stroke.

"Maraming salamat po sa Philippine Embassy and DFA kasi tinulungan kaming makauwi sa araw na ito," said Ms. Lovely Mae Maullion, a stranded tourist. "Sana marami pang matulungan. God bless you po."

Prior to check-in, the repatriates were provided face masks by the Embassy team assisting them at the airport. Packed meals were also distributed by the Embassy team to the repatriates.

Upon disembarkation at NAIA, the passengers will be subjected to a mandatory health assessment and COVID-19 test by the Department of Health-Bureau of Quarantine (DOH-BOQ) before heading to their designated quarantine facilities.

The Embassy extended its thanks to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia for facilitating the arrangements for the chartered flight.                                                                                               

For more information, visit the Embassy’s website at http://www.philembassykl.org.my or its official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PHinMalaysia/.