“THANK you America,” Foreign Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. said on Friday, in reference to the United States’ donation of 1,300 new cots and about P204 million ($4 million) in health assistance to help address the Covid-19 pandemic.

He received the donations from US Ambassador Sung Kim at the airport, with both men wearing a face mask and keeping a safe distance from each other.

Aside from the United States, Brunei also donated 20 units of Covid-19 test kits, which yield a total of 1,000 tests, through its Ministry of Health.

For all of these good deeds of helping the country address the pandemic, Locsin said: “Thank you very much. The Philippines extends its heartfelt gratitude to the foreign governments, international organizations, companies, groups, and individuals that have donated and helped in our fight against Covid-19.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs tweeted: “As the unseen foe surges, so does solidarity. The Philippines expresses its gratitude to all those that aided the Filipinos in this crucial time through their donations and assistance. Maraming Salamat! Together, #WeHealAsOne.”



Returning OFWs

Also on Friday, the DFA welcomed at the NAIA 440 Filipino seafarers repatriated from a Norwegian Cruise Lines, via a chartered flight from Florida.

“Four other incoming repatriation flights today. We’re not done yet,” reported DFA Undersecretary Brigido “Dodo” Dulay.

Earlier, the DFA said it “pays tribute to the courage and sacrifices of our OFWs all over the world as it brings home 450 Filipino seafarers from Carnival cruise ships (Fantasy, Freedom, Glory, Legend and Valor) this Good Friday afternoon.” This was the 11th group of repatriates the DFA welcomed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Many ship operators are finding it difficult to send returning seafarers to their respective homes, due to the scarcity of flights and the closing of borders.

The US Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced that it is extending its “no sail order” for all cruise ships by at least 100 days.

However, Locsin said he would support a suggestion — by Doris Magsaysay Ho — that cruise ships “should keep crews on board and sail to the ports of the crews’ closest destinations, there to disembark them and sail on to the next port.”

Acknowledging the idea of Ho, president and CEO of the Magsaysay Group, one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines, which trains and deploys thousands of Filipinos for ships around the world, Locsin said in a tweet: “Nothing is lost, a lot gained; time, money, flights no longer available. Brilliant idea, Doris.”

Ho’s suggestion had been carried out earlier when the P&O Australia and Carnival Lines announced that their cruise ships are leaving the Australian coastal waters by the middle of April to set sail to Manila “and bring back an estimated 2,500 more Filipino seafarers.”

The ship will wait for sister ships Sun Princess and Sea Princess to arrive at the rendezvous point and set sail together to join Explorer Pacific Aria and Pacific Dawn which will also sail to Asia,” said travel consultant Manny Geslani.

“P&O Australia is working with the governments of Indonesia and the Philippines and has sought approval for the return of their respective crewmembers to their home countries,” according to him.

The Carnival Spirit will load all the Filipino crew who will transfer from the Carnival Splendor using tender boats, and then sail to Manila, Cebu and Davao where the crew will sign off.

At the same time, Locsin said the DFA is chartering flights for 37 Filipino missionaries in Ghana, Sierra Leone & Ivory Coast. “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: “HELP! Our diplomatic posts covering these areas will get them travel clearances to airports to fly to Manila. Get get posts cracking, Dodo Dulay,” Locsin tweeted.

ASEAN solidarity

Meanwhile, Locsin emphasized the need for continued cooperation among ASEAN Member States in ensuring food security, particularly a stable rice supply, as well as access to medicines, personal protective equipment, and other essential medical supplies.

He made the suggestion during the 25th Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) via teleconference on Thursday, April 9, 2020, to discuss the region’s collective response to COVID-19.

At the Meeting, measures recommended by the ASEAN Coordinating Council Working Group on Public Health Emergencies during their inaugural meeting last March 31 were also endorsed.

These measures include continued sharing of information and best practices, measures to mitigate the negative socioeconomic impact of the pandemic, and the establishment of a COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund.

The Philippines’s foreign affairs chief also highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region during this crucial time, particularly in the South China Sea.

To end the Meeting, ASEAN Member States were invited to share, in their respective languages, a message of solidarity with ASEAN.