MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government welcomed on Wednesday night the eight Filipino seafarers of the ill-fated MV Eternity C which was attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said the eight seafarers arrived on July 16 via flight SV870 at NAIA Terminal 1 in Pasay City.
READ: DMW: 8 of 21 Filipino crew of besieged MV Eternity C rescued
“Prior to their safe return, the seafarers were provided with immediate assistance and support from the coordinated efforts of the MWO-OWWA Team and Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, Saudia Arabia,” said DMW.
The agency said all of the seafarers will receive financial assistance through the DMW’s AKSYON Fund, OWWA’s Emergency Repatriation Fund; medical care from DOH; and comprehensive reintegration support from TESDA.
Earlier, reports came that MV Eternity C sank in the Red Sea after repeated attacks from Yemen-based Houthi militants using sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades.
The bulk carrier was sailing under the flag of Liberia, carrying 22 crew members, 21 of which are Filipinos.
READ: PH seafarers barred from vessels passing through Red Sea, Gulf of Aden
The Philippine government previously barred Filipino seafarers from boarding vessels passing through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The DMW particularly required manning agencies to submit a written guarantee that passenger or cruise vessels with Filipino crew members will not traverse the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which have been designated as “war-like zones.”
Aside from the “affirmation letter,” the DMW also required manning agencies to submit their vessels’ detailed itinerary during the processing of crew employment contracts or before deployment. /cb
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