Six of the 17 Filipino crew members from the MV Magic Seas, a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, safely returned to the Philippines on Friday, July 11.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said that three of the seafarers arrived at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga at about 4 p.m., followed by another group of three who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Pasay City.

The MV Magic Seas was attacked on July 6 by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. The seafarers were rescued by a passing merchant vessel and arrived safely in Djibouti the following day.

DMW Assistant Secretary Francis Ron De Guzman welcomed the repatriated seafarers at the NAIA, together with officials of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Medical Team.

“The seafarers were provided a safety net in the form of financial assistance worth PHP75,000 each from DMW's AKSYON Fund and OWWA’s Emergency Repatriation Fund. DSWD also gave PHP10,000 each, while MIAA Medical Team immediately gave health check-ups to the seafarers,” the DMW said.

The OWWA provided hotel accommodations and transportation assistance for the seafarers to ensure their safe journey back to their families.

By: Che Bularon