An estimated 3,500 Filipino seafarers remain in the Persian Gulf, unable to leave the crisis-affected area, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). In a recent online briefing, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac reported that only 1,161 Filipino seafarers have successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz. Initially, there were 4,600 seafarers, but this number has decreased due to those who have managed to leave.
Cacdac clarified that the seafarers are not stranded in the traditional sense, as they continue to work aboard their ships, which remain operational in the Gulf. He emphasized that their ongoing employment is a crucial factor in their situation. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) indicated that Iran has assured safe passage for Philippine-flagged vessels and those carrying Filipino seafarers through the Strait, following a request for a “non-hostile country” designation amid escalating tensions in the region.
In related news, over 6,700 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dependents have been repatriated successfully. As of April 23, the Philippine government has brought home 6,785 individuals, prioritizing those in high-risk areas and with urgent humanitarian needs. Cacdac assured that the government is prepared to continue repatriation efforts as necessary, while also focusing on reintegration programs to help returning OFWs rebuild their lives in the Philippines.
