Worrisome reports saying that Filipino seafarers are being left to fend for themselves aboard abandoned ships must be investigated immediately by the government, former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate said.

Zarate reckoned that the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Congress and other concerned government agencies must probe the alarming rise of abandoned Filipino seafarers as it was "deeply disturbing."

"Hindi dapat ipagwalang-bahala ng gobyerno ang kapakanan ng ating mga marino na siyang backbone ng global maritime industry (The government should not neglect the welfare of our seafarers because they are the backbone of global maritime industry)," he said.

Zarate said the Marcos administration must ensure that manning agencies and foreign employers are held accountable for abandoning Filipino seafarers.

"These agencies rake in millions in profits from our seafarers' labor, pero pagdating sa krisis, wala silang pananagutan (but when it comes to crisis, they don't take accountability). This has to stop," he said.

Zarate also called for immediate financial assistance and comprehensive support for affected seafarers and their families.

"Our seafarers contribute billions to our economy through their remittances. The government must now show concrete support through emergency assistance, legal aid, and facilitation of their back wages and benefits," he said.

"With Filipinos comprising nearly 25 percet of the world's seafarers, the government cannot afford to abandon them too," he added.

Zarate said the government must take an urgent action and not just make a lip service.

"The DMW and POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) must review and strengthen regulations on manning agencies, while Congress must investigate these systematic violations of our seafarers' rights," he added.