The Department of Migrant Workers, led by Officer-in-Charge Assistant Secretary for Sea-Based OFW Concerns Augusto San Diego III, along with officials from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Manila International Airport Authority medical team, welcomed returning seafarers. These individuals received financial support from the AKSYON Fund, part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s UPLIFT initiative, aimed at addressing their immediate needs following a traumatic incident.
The crew members were aboard the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier M/V Antonia S when a missile struck the vessel on August 19 while it was docked in Chornomorsk, Ukraine. Local authorities promptly evacuated the crew to a designated shelter within Chornomorsk Port, where they remained until arrangements were made for temporary accommodation and their eventual repatriation.
San Diego emphasized the rights of seafarers to refuse to sail under unsafe conditions and encouraged them to seek assistance from authorities when necessary. He also highlighted the risks faced by other Filipino seafarers in conflict zones and expressed hopes for an end to ongoing armed conflicts that threaten lives at sea.
In a show of gratitude, the Filipino captain acknowledged a foreign security officer aboard the vessel, whose timely warning about the incoming missile allowed the crew to take precautionary measures. Upon their return, the seafarers will undergo medical and psychological evaluations arranged by their licensed manning agency to address their physical and mental health needs. The DMW also urged licensed manning agencies to consistently monitor the welfare of deployed Filipino seafarers and adhere to safety protocols in high-risk areas.
