Some Filipinos stranded abroad due to Omicron-related travel ban

According to JP Soriano's report on "24 Oras", some of those who have been stranded were Filipino delegates to the World Fencing Association in Geneva. The delegates of the Philippine Fencing Association were supposed to fly back to the Philippines on November 30. However, the Philippines imposed a travel ban on the country and several others in the region over Omicron, said to be more infectious than other COVID-19 variants. The Filipinos may only come back home if the government sends a repatriation flight. Their airline provider advised them to fly to Paris, France, which is not included in the travel ban. But they need to stay there for 14 days before returning to the Philippines. Sally Aramburo, one of the stranded delegates, said they are willing to be quarantined in France for 14 days but her visa will already expire on December 15. "Ang visa validity ko is hanggang December 15 lang. Matulungan din sana kami na kahit mapaaga lang na let's say kahit December 5 or 6, hindi kailangang hintayin 'yong 14 days," she said. The delegates are all fully vaccinated and have tested negative in their RT-PCR tests. Aramburo said they are prepared to be quarantined but requested that it should be done in the Philippines. "We are ready to have our 14 days quarantine, accepted namin 'yon basta makauwi," she said. Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval called on stranded Filipinos to bear with the temporary adjustments for the meantime. "Sa ngayon, bear with the adjustments muna on the travel restrictions. Temporary matter lang po ito dahil nakikita po ng IATF na kinakailangan po natin na mag-implement ng travel restrictions para maprotektahan ang ating bansa na hindi po makapasok dito 'yong bagong variant," she said. She called on Filipinos to monitor the social media pages of the BOI for updates on the travel restrictions. Aside from Switzerland, many Filipinos from Italy, Hungary, and Belgium are also affected by the travel ban. -Ma. Angelica Garcia/NB, GMA News

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