The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is hoping to recover the remains of two Filipino seafarers in the soonest possible time after the ship that was attacked by the Houthi rebels at the Gulf of Aden was already recovered.

DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said the bulk carrier True Confidence is now en route Oman where the salvage operation is expected to be done.

“Ang ating huling impormasyon ay nakuha na yung barko mula sa Gulf of Aden at patungo na ito sa isang lugar na safe na kung saan ay isa-salvage yung barko at priority ng ating pamahalaan ang pag kuha sa remains ng dalawa nating kababayan (The latest update that we received was that the vessel was already retrieved from the Gulf of Aden and is on its way to to a secure location for salvage operations. Our government's primary focus is on recovering the bodies),” said Olalia.

The vessel was hit by a missile fired by the Houthi rebels on march 6 at the Gulf of Aden.  A total of 15 Filipino seafarers were on board--two of them died while the rest were able to survive the attack.

The cadavers of the two Filipinos seafarers were still in the vessel which was engulfed by fire after the missile attack.

All the 13 survivors were already repatriated, the latest was the arrival of the two injured Filipino seafarers on Thursday morning, March 14.

Olalia said they are strengthening the implementation of the right of refusal, where Filipino seafarers who opt out of sailing through the Gulf of Aden will now be repatriated with all expenses covered by the company.

Additionally, they will be entitled to compensation equivalent to two months of their basic wage.

This decision was made following the International Bargaining Forum's (IBF) expansion of high-risk areas (HRAs) to encompass the entirety of the Gulf of Aden.

The newly expanded HRA now includes the complete southern portion of the Red Sea, the entire Gulf of Aden along the Yemeni coast in the Arabian Peninsula, and extends to the coast of Eritrea in the Horn of Africa region of Eastern Africa.

Aid for seafarers

So far, Olalia said each Filipino crew member has been granted over P55,000 in financial aid by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“The DFA distributed the initial installment of financial aid, providing one thousand dollars to each individual, and monitored their repatriation process.” he said.

Olalia said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration is committed to extending financial aid to the Filipino seafarers who have been impacted by the assault.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the DMW, DFA, OWWA, Department of Health, and Department of Social Welfare and Development to support the seafarers and their families who have been affected.

Refining legislation 

Olalia said it is imperative to refine the legislation promptly to ensure the welfare of seafarers. Olalia expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by the President and legislators to enhance the proposed bill.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. decided against endorsing the legislation, citing that it is currently undergoing a thorough review at the Palace.

The primary objective of the legislation is to provide seafarers with fair working conditions and just compensation by requiring recruitment agencies to provide them with detailed information on onboard conditions and relevant laws that apply to Filipino seafarers.

"We deeply respect the President and legislators' commitment to enhancing the bill in its current form. However, it is crucial that the necessary refinements are made promptly, without rushing the process and overlooking the initial issues that needed to be addressed," he remarked.