A House leader has urged the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and ship manning agencies to seek out new markets for Filipino seafarers in light of the ongoing pirate attacks in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. The call comes as several Filipino seafarers have become victims of attacks and abductions, particularly by Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden, with two seafarers losing their lives and two others sustaining injuries in a March incident.
Chairman of the House Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation, Rep. Kristine Alexie Tutor of Bohol 3rd District, emphasized that Filipino seafarers are willing to face the risks in these dangerous waters rather than lose their jobs. Despite the dangers, the demand for Filipino seafarers remains high due to their courage, willingness, and competence, according to Tutor. She highlighted the need for DMW and manning agencies to explore new deployment markets for seafarers, as cash remittances from sea-based OFWs have not exceeded $7 billion, with a significant portion coming from deployments to the Americas and Europe.
Tutor also pointed out that remittances from countries in South America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa are lower compared to those from European and North American host countries. She stressed the importance of diversifying deployment markets for Filipino seafarers to ensure their safety and economic stability in the face of escalating risks in certain regions. The development of new markets could provide alternative opportunities for Filipino seafarers while reducing their exposure to pirate attacks and other dangers at sea.