ILOILO City – Three Ilonggo seafarers who survived back-to-back attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea earlier this month are set to receive assistance from both the city and provincial governments as well as national agencies, with priority given to their mental health and economic recovery.
The seafarers, recently repatriated after serving aboard the Greek-managed bulk carrier MV Eternity C, which came under assault on July 7 and 8, were met by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) officer-in-charge regional director James Mendiola and Iloilo Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PESO) manager Cynthia Dario upon arrival at Iloilo International Airport last Sunday.
Acknowledging the trauma they endured, local officials are deliberately taking a supportive but measured approach.
“We wanted to reach out now, but considering their situation, we will give them space. The best psycho-social support they can get and embrace is the support coming from their family,” said Dario, who explained that once the seafarers are ready, they can visit the PESO to receive initial financial assistance of P10,000 under the regular program for distressed OFWs, with further assessment for possible livelihood grants of up to P100,000.
Meanwhile, Iloilo City PESO manager Gabriel Felix Umadhay said his office has coordinated with the wife of the repatriated seafarer from the city and is working closely with the City Social Welfare and Development Office to determine the level of assistance to be given.
“The cash assistance ranges from P5,000 to P15,000. Automatically, we qualify them for our livelihood program,” Umadhay said, adding that counseling remains the top priority for now. “If the seafarer intends to return to work, he can leave the livelihood program to his family and the city PESO can endorse him to shipping companies.”
Mendiola reaffirmed that OWWA and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) will continue to monitor the needs of the seafarers even after they return home.
“We will continue to communicate with the families so we can provide further assistance. We will provide counseling and other programs of DMW and OWWA,” he said.
The attacks on the Eternity C are among the latest incidents in the increasingly perilous Red Sea corridor, underscoring the ongoing dangers faced by Filipino seafarers on international waters./PN
