At A Glance
- The Department of Migrant Workers said on Saturday, May 2, that around 1,300 Filipino seafarers have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz while 14 others are attempting to traverse the waterway amid the ongoing ceasefire in the Middle East crisis.
The Department of Migrant Workers said on Saturday, May 2, that around 1,300 Filipino seafarers have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz while 14 others are attempting to traverse the waterway amid the ongoing ceasefire in the Middle East crisis.
An Emirati patrol boat, left, is near a tanker anchored in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from a coastal road near Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
"Sa Strait of Hormuz naman, ang minamanmanan natin doon 'yung sitwasyon ng pagtawid ng mga tripulante natin. Higit kumulang meron nang 1,300 (In the Strait of Hormuz, we are closely monitoring the situation involving the crossing of our crew members. Around 1,300 have already made the crossing)," DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac told reporters in an interview.
"Pero meron tayong inaantabayan na at least 14 naman na makakatawid na. Hopefully, makatawid sila (But we are also monitoring at least 14 who are expected to make the crossing. Hopefully, they will be able to pass safely)," he added.
Around 3,300 Filipino seafarers are still in the Persian Gulf, according to Cacdac. He was in Pasay City to welcome and assist another batch of repatriates from Kuwait.
He assured that they have been in contact with the licensed manning agency and shipowners to ensure adequate supplies and welfare.
"Patuloy naman ang trabaho nila on board. Hindi naman sila 'yung stranded na idle na walang ginagawa. They continue to work kasi they need to run their respective ships. Patuloy 'yung kanilang mga sweldo, 'yung allotments na pinapadala nila sa kanilang mga mahal na pamilya (They continue to work on board. They are not stranded or idle without anything to do. They need to keep their respective ships running, and their salaries, as well as the allotments they send to their families, continue)," the DMW chief said.
For now, Cacdac noted that they are working on the "replacement crew" for seafarers who have finished their contracts.
"Minsan kasi meron ng mga tinatawag na 'fatigue' at saka 'yung may mga karamdaman tapos sila dapat napapalitan. Kaya't ayun, isa pa natin isinasagawa together with the ship owners (At times, some experience what we call fatigue, while others may have illnesses, and they need to be replaced. That is another measure we are undertaking together with the shipowners)," he added.
On Saturday, 165 overseas Filipinos workers were repatriated from Kuwait and received various services from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in its repatriation center in Pasay City.