Clark airport resumes operations for returning OFWs

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The Clark International Airport resumed operations on Friday, June 5, to accommodate flights carrying returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

The first flight arrived from Dubai, bringing home 262 passengers, of which 257 are OFWs. They were welcomed by National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer and BCDA President and CEO Vince Dizon, Luzon International Premiere Airport Development (LIPAD) Corporation Chief Executive Officer Bi Yong Chungunco, Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President Noel Manankil, and BCDA Senior Vice President for Business Development and Operations Joshua Bingcang, also the former president of the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC).

The Clark International Airport resumed operations on Friday, June 5, to accommodate flights carrying returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The Clark International Airport resumed operations on Friday, June 5, to accommodate flights carrying returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

A one-stop shop was set up at the airport to assist the passengers upon arrival.

Booths were also put up to conduct swab tests on the arriving passengers before they were sent to their respective hotels to wait for their COVID-19 test results. The swab samples will be processed at the JB Lingad Memorial Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga.

“Binuksan natin ang Clark airport para i-decentralize ang pagdating ng mga overseas Filipino workers. Mas magiging mabilis at mas komportable ang pag-uwi at pag-aalaga sa mga OFWs sa mga susunod na araw,” Dizon said.

“Ang objective natin ay hindi lalagpas ng limang araw ang kanilang [pag-stay sa hotels]. Kapag sila ay negatibo, makakauwi na sila, maximum of 5 days,” he added.

On Saturday, June 6, a flight from Vancouver carrying 347 seafarers of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship arrived at the Clark International Airport. (BCDA)