Senators on Thursday, November 23 urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to devise all means to bring back home 17 Filipino seafarers who were held hostage by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva offered his prayers for the safety of the 17 Filipino seafarers, and called on the DFA, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and other concerned agencies to exhaust all efforts to bring them home.

"The establishment of the DMW, which we principally sponsored and authored in the Senate, will provide a faster and more efficient service to our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Moreover, we ensured the funding of the AKSYON fund in the department to give immediate assistance to our OFWs in need," he said in a statement.

"Kailangan po mabilis ang pagtiyak sa kaligtasan ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino lalo na po ang mga OFWs na nakikipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa para mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang kanilang mga pamilya (Ensuring the safety of every Filipino individual especially OFWs should be fast as they are venturing out in another country to provide a better life for their families)," he added.

Meanwhile, Sen. Risa Hontiveros urged the DFA and DMW to utilize all diplomatic channels and resources available to facilitate the immediate release of the Filipino seafarers currently being held hostage by the Yemen rebel group.

“We call on the Department of Foreign Affairs to leverage its diplomatic relationships and engage with international partners to address this pressing issue. Umaasa ako na patuloy silang makikipag-ugnayan sa mga awtoridad upang makauwi ng ligtas ang ating mga kababayan,” Hontiveros said.

“The government must explore all available options to bring them back to their families and loved ones in the Philippines,” she furthered.

Hontiveros also expressed her sympathy for the Filipino seafarers and their families.

“Amidst these challenging times, our thoughts and prayers are with the Filipino seafarers and their families,” Hontiveros said.

Likewise, she urged the DMW to be ‘present’ for the families by providing them steadfast support and practical assistance as they awaited rescue updates.

“Higit sa assurance, kailangan ng konkretong tulong sa kanilang pamilya. DMW should make sure that they initiate regular and transparent communication with the families to keep them informed about the situation, provide mental and emotional support, and financial assistance,” she said.

Moving forward, Hontiveros underscored the need for a comprehensive and improved policy framework to effectively manage recurring hazards that OFWs, specifically seafarers, faced in the course of their work.

“Hindi lang ito ang iisang beses na nalagay sa panganib ang kanilang buhay sa gitna ng paglalayag. Dapat handa ang gobyerno para maprotektahan ang kanilang kapakanan. We cannot afford to have our OFWs facing such hazards repeatedly without a strategic and comprehensive plan in place,” she said.

"The hazards faced by our seafarers only highlight the need for the passage of the Magna Carta of Seafarers Bill, of which I am happy to be co-author. Ngayong papalapit na ang pagpasa nito, umaasa akong seafarers nga ang totoong sentro ng batas na ito," Hontiveros concluded.