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New life for 42 Pinoy seafarers after Red Sea missile attack
By Nidz Godino
"Crew are all safe and en route to their destinations…minor damage on ships was reported," Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said all 42 Filipino seafarers onboard foreign vessels encountered missile attacks while traversing Red Sea are safe.
Six ships have been attacked in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since April 25, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said during Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum.
Three of six ships have Filipino seafarers, he noted.
DMW has been pleading with ship owners to divert their voyages and not pass through Red Sea and Gulf of Aden for safety of seafarers, he added.
If passing through Red Sea and Gulf of Aden declared as "war-like zones" cannot be avoided, DMW wants ship owners to allow Filipino seafarers to disembark and join another voyage, Cacdac said.
Due to current situation in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, DMW has developed mechanism for Filipino seafarers to exercise their right to refuse sailing in high-risk and war-like areas.
As of this time, 25 Filipino seafarers have exercised their right to refuse sailing in high-risk and war-like zones, Cacdac reported.
DMW is utilizing P2.8-billion budget to assist distressed overseas Filipino workers, including seafarers.
Philippines recorded an all-time high of 578,626 deployments of Filipino seamen in 2023, he noted.
Late last year, 17 Filipino seafarers were captured and held hostage by Houthi rebels while their ships were traversing Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Two seafarers were killed and two others were injured when Houthi rebels attacked their vessels last March.
Department of Foreign Affairs is leading negotiations for safe release of 17 Filipino seafarers, Cacdac said.
DMW is working on repatriation of two seafarers' remains, he added.
Seafarers' deployment has returned to pre-pandemic levels, he said.
Filipino seafarers are in high demand by foreign ship owners.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.called for stronger protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), whose remittances have kept Philippine economy afloat. During Labor Day celebration at Malacañang, Marcos issued three directives promoting welfare and safety of more than two million OFWs.
DMW must continue mobilizing P2.8-billion Aksyon Fund to protect distressed OFWs, help them attain justice and keep them safe during global crises and emergencies, Marcos said.
"Second, let us strengthen our efforts on labor diplomacy at bilateral and multilateral level and realize our shared responsibility with host country to ensure safe and ethical recruitment processes and just and humane conditions for our OFWs," he added.
Agencies have also been directed to empower OFWs as "partners in nation-building," FMJ noted.
"I have directed DMW, Department of Labor and Employment and all other government agencies to strengthen program coordination and development for reintegration of returning OFWs," FMJ concluded.
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