BI allows 16,000 seafarers to disembark in Manila Bay

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has permitted over 16,000 Filipino and foreign seafarers to disembark from cruise ships docked in Manila Bay since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Out of the 16,287 seafarers who were cleared by BI boarding inspectors, 11,189 were Filipinos and 5,098 were foreigners.

These seafarers disembarked from 42 vessels between April 16 and June 15, after undergoing quarantine and COVID-19 testing onboard their ships.

Approximately 2,300 seafarers are still awaiting repatriation and remain under quarantine on their vessels.

Repatriated Filipino seafarers are directly transported to their homes with the assistance of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Foreign seafarers are permitted to disembark only if they possess confirmed outbound plane tickets to their home countries and are escorted to the airport by BI personnel.

In a specific instance on June 11, 122 Sri Lankan seafarers were repatriated to their country upon the request of their embassy in Manila.

Alien seamen married to Filipino citizens may also disembark to join their families, provided they submit necessary documents including a negative COVID swab test result and an endorsement from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).