DFA to repatriate 7,060 more OFWs in August

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that 7,060 overseas Filipinos affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are scheduled for repatriation in August.

As of August 7, the DFA has repatriated a total of 408,911 Filipinos since the program began in February last year.

These repatriates include 303,304 land-based and 105,607 sea-based overseas Filipinos, comprising those whose contracts and visas expired, individuals with medical conditions, and pregnant women.

The DFA's recent repatriation flight from Macau brought home 202 Filipinos, bringing the total repatriates from Macau to 3,995.

This Macau repatriation was the 20th flight organized by the Philippine Consulate since March 2020, with another flight scheduled for August 13.

Challenges in repatriation efforts include daily passenger caps, limited quarantine facilities, and high positivity rates on some flights.