REPATRIATES AT CRK. A new batch of 346 repatriated overseas Filipino workers arrives on Saturday (June 13, 2020) at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga. The repatriates who are seafarers of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship came from the Caribbean island nation of Barbados via a special Philippine Airlines flight. (Photo by BCDA)
CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga – A new batch of 346 repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) arrived on Saturday at the Clark International Airport (CRK) here.
The repatriates, who are seafarers of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship, came from the Caribbean island nation of Barbados via a special Philippine Airlines flight.
They underwent mandatory reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
The RT-PCR tests will be processed at the Jose B. Lingad Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga.
In the meantime, the repatriates will be housed at the Covid-19 facility of the province in New Clark City (NCC) here while awaiting the test results.
The returning OFWs will be allowed to go home once they receive their negative RT-PCR test results.
The opening of Clark airport is part of the government's initiative to lessen the bulk of OFWs who are expected to arrive in Manila.
“Clark International Airport (CRK) is proud to support the government’s aim to bring home our stranded overseas Filipinos. We commend Philippine Airlines in helping us achieve this milestone. This marks a momentous event for CRK and we look forward to more such flights in the coming weeks,” Bi Yong Chungunco, chief executive officer of LIPAD Corporation who is in charge of the operations and management of CRK earlier said.
On June 9, a total of 337 repatriated seafarers of Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship who tested negative from their RT-PCR tests were sent off to their respective destinations.
The repatriates arrived at the CRK last June 6. They were provided free accommodations at the Quest Hotel and the Park Inn by Radisson Clark.
They were transported via buses arranged by the Department of Transportation and licensed manning agencies through the coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the regional and local government units.
Aside from seafarers, a total of 262 OFWs on board an Emirates commercial flight from Dubai also arrived at Clark airport last June 5. (PNA)
