DMW urges seafarers, kin to report abandonment

DMW urges seafarers, kin to report abandonment
Anton Banal Mar 08, 2025 https://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/dmw-urges-seafarers-kin-to-report-aban...

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Saturday, March 8, 2025, called on all Filipino seafarers and their families to report cases of abandonment be it in ports or at sea.

In a statement, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said they will continuously monitor the welfare of Filipino seafarers, especially against unfair practices such as abandonment.

"The DMW remains committed in its mandate, and it firmly opposes the act of shipowners of abandonment of seafarers in ports and at sea," said Cacdac.

"All Filipino seafarers and their families are encouraged to report to the DMW-One Repatriation Command Center (ORCC) if abandonment occurs," he added.

In such cases, the DMW chief said licensed manning agencies (LMA) and shipowners are obliged to arrange the immediate repatriation of the abandoned seafarers.

"If the concerned LMA and shipowner fail to repatriate, the DMW will arrange the repatriation of the seafarer," said Cacdac.

Records show that there are a total of 742 recorded abandoned vessels from 2020 to 2024, most of which were abandoned in the Middle East, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, Latin America, North America, and at sea.

From 2018 to 2024, there were a total of 842 abandoned Filipino seafarers on board fishing vessels, passengers, yachts, long liners, and bulk carriers. (Anton Banal/SunStar Philippines)