"Philippines Rescues Six Filipino Seafarers Stranded In Iloilo Strait For Nearly Three Months"

...Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)’s administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan confirmed that 13 seafarers (six Filipinos and seven Indian nationals) had been stranded on the vessel since April 2025…

The stranded Filipino seafarers endured months aboard the immobilized vessel without stable electricity, clean water, proper food, or communication access.

Caunan explained that the shipowner had made earlier attempts to negotiate with the crew over their unpaid wages, but no resolution was reached until this week.

As part of the government’s response, each of the six Filipino crew members will receive P100,000 (US$1,776) in financial aid through the DMW’s Action Fund and OWWA’s Emergency Repatriation Program…

Although the Filipino seafarers have returned to their families, the seven Indian nationals remain on board. The Bureau of Immigration is assisting them with immigration clearance…

…the DMW is moving forward with administrative proceedings against the vessel owner and its Philippine manning agency, Erica Crew Manning Services, which is currently under suspension…

DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia outlined three primary violations being investigated: Failure to ensure the vessel’s seaworthiness, delayed or unpaid wages, and possible contract substitution…

He added that the agency is also evaluating the manning agency’s failure to monitor the welfare of its deployed seafarers, another clear breach of its legal obligations under Philippine labor and maritime laws...