Safety comes first.
That was the reminder of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as it announced a strict limitation in the deployment of Filipino seafarers overseas.
The limitation is in response to a recent attack carried out by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea that killed two Filipino seamen and injured
“That means the manning agencies are following [the] directive of the government to limit the presence of Filipino seafarers or have them have the option to refuse,” Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega announced during a recent Malacañang briefing.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has also issued an advisory informing seafarers in “war-like and high-risk areas” that they have the option for the refusal to sail and being repatriated.
The company will shoulder the repatriation expense and compensation equivalent to two months wage.
On the other hand, when the seafarers choose to sail, they are entitled to double compensation, with death and disability benefits.
To recall, Houthi rebels staged an attack on the M/V True Confidence, a Barbados-registered vessel, off the coast of the Gulf of Aden.
Of the 15 Filipino crew members on board, two were confirmed killed while 11 others were rescued and reached the Philippines last March 12 via Hong Kong.
The other two will follow through an air ambulance.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. directed the DFA to provide assistance to the surviving Filipino seafarers.
De Vega confirmed that the Philippine Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, will be distributing initial financial assistance totaling $1,000 to the affected seafarers.
While there are no further details yet, De Vega further discussed that there are some government officials and legislators who have offered assistance packaged to the affected seafarers.
Photo Courtesy : PCO (pco.gov.ph)
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