Last Filipino seafarers from M/V Europe I back in PH

MANILA, Philippines, August 20 ------ The last five Filipino seamen from Liberia-flagged oil/product tanker M/V Europe I arrived on Monday in the Philippines.

On Saturday, 11 seafarers from the vessel arrived in the Philippines. "Their repatriation was made before the vessel entered designated high-risk and warlike areas in the Northern Black Sea, to ensure their safety and security," the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said in Filipino in a statement. 

The seafarers arrived aboard Emirates Flight EK334 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, the DMW said. The representatives of the DMW, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Medical Team met the seafarers when the seafarers arrived, the department said.

"The OFWs received airport and financial assistance from the DMW and OWWA, while they were subjected to an initial health assessment by the MIAA Medical Team," the department said, adding that the representatives of the seafarers' manning agency, Intercrew Philippines Agency, Inc., "also arrived at the airport to give additional assistance."

OFWs stands for overseas Filipino workers. The DMW said it and the OWWA directed the manning agency to ensure the conduct "the necessary physical and psychological assessments, as well as the seafarers' debriefing session, if applicable." "Pursuant to the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the DMW continues to remind licensed manning agencies and their accredited principals to closely monitor the situation of their Filipino seafarers and ensure that the necessary safety measures and prevailing protocols are followed for vessels traveling to the Black Sea," the department said.

It said in closing, "Are you an OFW facing distress or crisis situation? Find out whether you are qualifed, Kabayan, for the AKSYON Fund. Visit or get in touch with the DMW Central Office, the nearest DMW regional offices, or the Migrant Workers Office (MWO): https://dmw.gov.ph/contact-us."

Source: manilatimes.net