DMW studying deployment policy for ships passing through Red Sea
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DMW studying deployment policy for ships passing through Red Sea
MANILA — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Saturday said it is studying its current policy on the deployment of Filipino seafarers to ships sailing through the Red Sea, where Houthi rebels have been launching attacks since last year.
MANILA — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Saturday said it is studying its current policy on the deployment of Filipino seafarers to ships sailing through the Red Sea, where Houthi rebels have been launching attacks since last year.
This comes after MV Tutor was attacked earlier this week, making it the third time a vessel with Filipinos aboard was targeted by the Houthis.
This comes after MV Tutor was attacked earlier this week, making it the third time a vessel with Filipinos aboard was targeted by the Houthis.
“We cannot stop the commerce, a ship from sailing… [but] in light of this recent incident, we are reviewing this current policy. Just give us room to review the policy,” DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac told reporters here.
“We cannot stop the commerce, a ship from sailing… [but] in light of this recent incident, we are reviewing this current policy. Just give us room to review the policy,” DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac told reporters here.
While the Philippine government had already “directed ships carrying Filipino seafarers to divert” its routes away from rebel-infested areas, authorities are still assessing “political and security considerations,” he told reporters.
While the Philippine government had already “directed ships carrying Filipino seafarers to divert” its routes away from rebel-infested areas, authorities are still assessing “political and security considerations,” he told reporters.
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While a new deployment policy in the Red Sea has yet to be in place, the government guaranteed that Filipino seafarers would have the "right to refuse sailing" if he or she deems that the ship would sail through dangerous waters, Cacdac said.
So far, 50 percent of ships carrying Filipino seafarers have heeded the government’s call to "divert their voyages," he said.
However, Filipinos about the three hijacked ships — MV Galaxy, MV True Confidence and MV Tutor — have "all consented" to be deployed to the routes where the attacks took place, he said.
The Houthi rebels earlier said that their attacks are in retaliation for Israel’s months-long pounding of the Gaza strip following an attack from Hamas in October 2023.
Seventeen Filipino seafarers have been trapped as hostage aboard the MV Galaxy since November 2023
While a new deployment policy in the Red Sea has yet to be in place, the government guaranteed that Filipino seafarers would have the "right to refuse sailing" if he or she deems that the ship would sail through dangerous waters, Cacdac said.
So far, 50 percent of ships carrying Filipino seafarers have heeded the government’s call to "divert their voyages," he said.
However, Filipinos about the three hijacked ships — MV Galaxy, MV True Confidence and MV Tutor — have "all consented" to be deployed to the routes where the attacks took place, he said.
The Houthi rebels earlier said that their attacks are in retaliation for Israel’s months-long pounding of the Gaza strip following an attack from Hamas in October 2023.
Seventeen Filipino seafarers have been trapped as hostage aboard the MV Galaxy since November 2023
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