MORE than 1,000 Filipinos were brought home from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the past two weeks via seven special commercial or Bayanihan flights.
Cebu Pacific (CEB) on Sunday said about 1,417 Filipinos were repatriated through special commercial flights from Dubai-Manila on October 11, 14, 18 and 20 and Dubai-Davao on October 21-23.
The flights were mounted in coordination with the Philippine government's special working group, and as a support to the government's repatriation program.
"The Bayanihan flights were mounted so we can bring more Filipinos home. We will keep on working to provide more ways to help more Filipinos, as we enter the holiday season" said Alex Reyes, chief strategy officer at CEB.
The carrier has flown more than 6,500 Filipinos from Dubai, Abu Dhabi (UAE), Oman, India, Vietnam, Lebanon, and Bahrain through Bayanihan and Department of Foreign Affairs-arranged charter flights since July.
CEB management meanwhile, said passengers on each flight received an additional 25 kilograms baggage allowance, aside from meal upgrades.
They also have to comply with health protocols, including a mandatory facility-based quarantine, and a swab test to be taken on the fifth day for the fully-vaccinated, or seventh day for non/partially vaccinated after arrival.
CEB coordinated with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to accommodate all arriving overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dependents in Bureau of Quarantine (BoQ)-designated stringent quarantine hotels.
The cost of quarantine accommodation and testing for land-based OFWs were shouldered by OWWA, while the Philippine Port Authority covered the cost for sea-based OFWs.
Returning overseas Filipinos or non-OFWs should arrange and settle for their testing and minimum of six-day quarantine hotel reservations in the same BoQ-designated stringent quarantine facilities.