Stranded Filipino workers in Macau thrown lifeline as Melco Resorts steps in
A chartered special flight will be transporting Philippine workers back to their homeland
Philippine workers stranded in Macau due to the Covid-19 travel ban, will be transported back to their homeland by a special chartered flight scheduled to depart Macau today, with the totality cost of the flight funded by Melco Resorts & Entertainment.
A survey was conducted in April by The Philippine Consulate General to determine the number of Filipinos stranded in the city. Over 33,000 Philippine nationals reside in Macau, making Filipinos the city’s biggest foreign community.
Melco Resorts operates three casinos in Macau: City of Dreams, Studio City and Altira, as well as City of Dreams Manila – The capital city of the Philippines. The Filipino nationals who work for the gaming operator are on work leave or have been laid off due to the economic plunge caused by the global pandemic.
Melco offers available seats to the Philippine Consulate General in Macau, who then contacted stranded Filipinos prioritising such as those with disabilities, elderly people, and pregnant women.
Melco has offered the available seats to the Philippine Consulate General in Macau, who then contacted stranded Filipinos prioritising such as those with disabilities, elderly people, and pregnant women.
Joseph Concepcion, one of the stranded Filipinos in the Macau, who suffered a stroke and underwent surgery in the city’s public hospital, said he was contacted by the Consulate to inform him about the flight made available back home. His contact details were acquired when he applied for financial assistance and relief packs from the consulates office in the past.
The gaming operator Melco Resorts also donated 500,000 medical masks to further support the SAR government’s anti-pandemic efforts for the country. With 200,000 medical masks given directly to 85 social service facilities benefiting the elderly, people in rehabilitation and people with special needs. Read more about it here.
There are still no flights connecting Manila to Macau up to this day as the three airlines who run the routes – Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air and AirAsia – have not yet resumed operations.
Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport recommenced on May 11, allowing inbound international charter and commercial flights to land in the city. Passengers arriving the country are subjected to mandatory quarantine for 14 days.
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