AROUND 149 foreign tourists stranded in Northern Mindanao were repatriated through a recovery flight via Cebu Pacific from Laguindingan Airport to Manila on Wednesday, March 25.

The tourists with different nationalities failed to go back home after flights were canceled due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

The DOT wrote a letter requesting Governor Bambi Emano to allow a sweeper flight to land in Laguindingan Airport to accommodate the stranded tourists in the region. The Laguindingan airport has stopped its operations as a measure to against Covid-19.

Emano on the same day responded granting the DOT's request.

"Kahinumduman nga flagship program sa gobernador ang pagpalambo sa turismo sa lalawigan sa Misamis Oriental. Busa gipanginkamotan niya nga maatiman ang tanang panginahanglan sa mga turista," the Capitol said in a press statement.

(Tourism development is the flagship program of the governor in the province of Misamis Oriental. Thus he made efforts to take care of the needs of tourists.)