MANILA — Government officials, members of SeaFam international, and seafarers held a flag raising ceremony Tuesday morning at the Rizal Park, Manila in celebration of the International Day of Seafarers.

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Following the ceremony, SeaFam provided services and activities for seafarers.

Some of the services were free seminar on mental health awareness, free training on entrepreneurship, free demonstration on how to make solar light, free haircut, free massage, scholarship vouchers and free training with allowance distribution, as well as assistance with other documents like COC, SID and Seaman's book.

Meanwhile, MARINA administrator Sonia Malaluan said the agency supports the government policy that allows seafarers to refuse to go on board vessels that will sail in dangerous areas that are frequently targeted by rebels.

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This comes after the latest Houthi attack on an All-Filipino crew MV Transworld Navigator in the Red Sea.

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"We support the policy of the government that seafarers can refuse to sail in high risk areas and we encourage the international community to sacrifice that additional cost considering the risk in the lives of our Filipino seafarers," Malaluan said. 

Malaluan also assured that they will give assistance to seafarers who were victims of previous vessel attacks should they choose to work again in the maritime industry.

She also said that the government already provides appropriate training for seafarers in case of threat or any armed attack while they are on board a ship.

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