THE Filipino seafarers repatriated from a cargo ship stranded in the sea between Iloilo City and Guimaras Island. (Office of Congresswoman Baronda)
ILOILO CITY — Six Filipino and seven Indian seafarers were repatriated from an international-flagged cargo ship stranded in the sea between Iloilo City and Guimaras Island.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Patricia Yvonne “PY” Caunan and Iloilo City Rep. Julienne “Jam Jam” Baronda negotiated with the manning agency of the cargo ship to settle problems.
MV Hirman Star arrived in Iloilo City last August to deliver rice from Vietnam but the ship was detained by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as its certificates expired.
When the ship was about to be released from detention last April, its gyro compass broke. The crew was told to sail to Cebu to repair the equipment but the crew refused, fearing that the ship was not safe to sail.
The crew were not able to get their salary. While the ship’s owner arrived in Iloilo from the Middle East last month, the problem was not resolved.
Last week, one of the six Filipino seafarers reached out to Gerthrode Charlotte Tan-Mabilog, anchor of the Iloilo-based newscast of GMA 7.
She reached out to Baronda’s office for help as three of the six Filipino seafarers were from Iloilo province while another was from Bacolod City.
During the weekend, Baronda reached out to OWWA and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
On June 30, Caunan work out a deal with the vessel owner and manning agency to settle the problem.
The successful repatriation of the seafarers wad backed by the Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Ports Authority, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, and the Iloilo City government.