MANILA — Seventeen Filipino seafarers who were recently freed from Houthi rebels will receive extensive financial and welfare assistance upon their return to the Philippines, government officials announced Thursday.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) pledged a comprehensive support package designed to help the sailors recover from their traumatic experience, with Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac emphasizing the government’s commitment to their well-being.
“These brave seafarers are not just coming home; they are returning to a network of support that will help them heal and rebuild,” Cacdac told reporters.
The assistance package includes PHP75,000 per seafarer from the DMW’s Aksyon Fund, covering financial aid, medical support, and psychosocial counseling. Additional support will come from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Health, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Cacdac also publicly thanked the Sultanate of Oman and various international entities for their critical role in mediating the seafarers’ release, calling it a testament to diplomatic collaboration.
The seafarers are expected to arrive Thursday night, with government officials assuring they are safe and in positive spirits. DMW Director Jasmine Gapatan added that the department would provide livelihood and investment training to support their long-term economic recovery.
“Our goal is not just to bring them home, but to ensure they have the resources to thrive,” Gapatan said.
The rescue underscores the Philippine government’s ongoing efforts to protect its overseas workers, who are crucial to the nation’s economy.
