After surviving the Houthi rebels attack on their vessel, the MV Magic Seas, in the Red Sea on July 6, all 17 Filipino seafarers touched home soil again.

Six of the crew members returned safely to the Philippines on Friday, July 11, while the remaining 11 seafarers arrived on Saturday, July 12.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels assaulted and sunk the Liberian-flagged Greek-owned bulk carrier MV Magic Seas in the Red Sea, forcing the 22 crew members, including the 17 Filipinos, to abandon the ship.

Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac of the Department of Migrant Workers and Ms. Josephine Roldan, president of Crewcare Inc., the manning agency, welcomed the seafarers at the airport.

Representatives from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Manila International Airport authority (MIAA) were also present to assist the seafarers.

The seafarers received financial support of PHP75,000 each from DMW's AKSYON Fund and OWWA's Emergency Repatriation Fund, as well as PHP10,000 each from DSWD, while the MIAA Medical Team provided them with immediate health checks.

The principal, through the manning agency, provided hotel accommodations and transportation support to the seafarers to ensure their safe return to their families.

By: Eva Tan