The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) repatriated a total of 111 stranded Filipino seafarers and the remains of two seafarers from Fujian, China, on board carrier vessel Star Mariner which docked at Manila Port today.
This repatriation becomes significant as the DFA celebrated the 122nd anniversary of its founding today, the birthday of Apolinario Mabini, the first Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines.
The stranded Filipinos came from nine different Chinese fishing vessels that were forced to anchor in the high seas for the past several months because they were not allowed to dock in any port, including China, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions imposed by the countries around the world.
Star Mariner left Fujian, China on 11 July 2020 with 101 stranded Filipinos to fetch 10 stranded seafarers and two remains on board another stranded ship in the Indian Ocean before proceeding to Manila. They left the waters off Singapore on 18 July 2020.
The repatriates underwent RT-PCR testing as prescribed by the IATF-EID. They will be temporarily housed at Bureau of Quarantine-approved facilities for mandatory quarantine while they await the results of their RT-PCR test.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) repatriated a total of 111 stranded Filipino seafarers and the remains of two seafarers from Fujian, China, on board carrier vessel Star Mariner which docked at Manila Port today.
This repatriation becomes significant as the DFA celebrated the 122nd anniversary of its founding today, the birthday of Apolinario Mabini, the first Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines.
The stranded Filipinos came from nine different Chinese fishing vessels that were forced to anchor in the high seas for the past several months because they were not allowed to dock in any port, including China, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions imposed by the countries around the world.
Star Mariner left Fujian, China on 11 July 2020 with 101 stranded Filipinos to fetch 10 stranded seafarers and two remains on board another stranded ship in the Indian Ocean before proceeding to Manila. They left the waters off Singapore on 18 July 2020.
The repatriates underwent RT-PCR testing as prescribed by the IATF-EID. They will be temporarily housed at Bureau of Quarantine-approved facilities for mandatory quarantine while they await the results of their RT-PCR test.
The DFA, through the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) and the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen, worked closely with concerned agencies such as Philippine Ports Authority, Department of Health-Bureau of Quarantine, Philippine Coast Guard, and Maritime Industry Authority, as well as with the Chinese employer and concerned licensed manning agencies for their repatriation and arrival, in compliance with the Philippine and Chinese government’s health emergency protocols.
The DFA was also in coordination with the seafarers and their families. The DFA will continue to monitor the condition of and extend assistance to the remaining seafarers in Fujian, China and will continue its efforts to negotiate with local authorities in China for their immediate repatriation to the Philippines.
