DFA mounts largest repat flights for stranded Filipinos

In 2020, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) mounted one of the largest repatriation efforts for Filipinos affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Starting in February, DFA organized flights to bring home Filipinos from Wuhan and the Diamond Princess cruise ship, followed by numerous chartered and commercial flights that brought thousands back to the Philippines.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported that nearly 400,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were repatriated through government assistance, with DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III noting that this effort began in May and involved various modes of transportation.