Filipino seafarers rescued in Iloilo get partial back wages, gov’t aid

Filipino seafarers rescued in Iloilo get partial back wages, gov’t aid
Marita Moaje July 2, 2025 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1253440

MANILA – The six Filipino seafarers stranded aboard an unseaworthy vessel in the Iloilo Strait for nearly three months have begun receiving their unpaid wages, as the government moves to hold the vessel owner and manning agency accountable for the ordeal.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Chief Patricia Yvonne Caunan, in an interview on Bagong Pilipinas on Wednesday, said the seafarers, crew members of bulk carrier MV Herman Star, have finally returned to their families after enduring months without power, proper food, clean water, or salary aboard the vessel.

Caunan said OWWA intervened between the seafarers, the vessel owner, and the manning agency for their conciliation agreement in terms of the payment of the unpaid wages.

"Meron silang napagkasunduan sa conciliation na terms of payment pero nakuha na nila yung 1st tranche (ng backwages), at tayo naman sa DMW OWWA, nagbigay din tayo ng financial at reintegration assistance sa bawat isang seafarer (They have agreed on the terms of payment in the conciliation, but they have already received the first tranche of backwages, and we at DMW OWWA, we also provided financial and reintegration assistance to each seafarer),” she said.

“Masaya tayo na na-facilitate natin ang kasunduan dahil dapat isa lang ang kontrata na sinusunod, ang aprubado ng DMW (We are happy that we were able to facilitate the agreement because there should only be one contract followed, the one approved by DMW),” Caunan said as she assured the seafarers that the remaining salaries would be fully released as agreed upon.

Caunan said the rescue of the six Filipino seafarers was made possible with the help of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Bureau of Immigration, the Bureau of Customs, and Iloilo Lone District Rep. Jam Baronda.

The six rescued seafarers immediately received PHP100,000 in financial aid through the DMW's Aksyon Fund and OWWA's Emergency Repatriation Fund as part of the government's expanded support for distressed overseas workers and seafarers, as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Meanwhile, Caunan said the Philippine government also extended food aid and other assistance to seven other Indian crew members who were also stranded with them.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, in an earlier interview, said the agency would pursue administrative sanctions and hold the vessel owner and the manning agency accountable for the hardship the seafarers endured.

The manning agency, Erica Crew Manning Services Inc., is already under suspension and could face license revocation.

The ship arrived from Vietnam carrying bags of rice in August 2024 but remained docked after being found unseaworthy and lacking a valid trading certificate during an inspection by the PCG/Port State Control. It changed crews twice.

DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said violations include failure to ensure the ship’s seaworthiness, delayed payment of wages, and possible contract substitution.

Moreover, he said the DMW is looking at the manning agency’s failure to monitor its deployed seafarers, which was also a violation; and at a possible contract substitution.

“So 'yung tatlong 'yun, napakabigat na 'yun, at isa doon, hahantong sa cancellation po ng lisensya ng manning agency (So those three, they're very serious and one of them will lead to the cancellation of the manning agency's license),” he said. (PNA)