The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the Philippines has pledged full support to the family of a Filipino seafarer who has been missing since December 5 while aboard a ship. Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac has committed to conducting a thorough investigation into the disappearance and ensuring that the family receives necessary assistance in the Philippines.
In light of the broader issue of seafarer abandonment, the DMW urged Filipino seafarers and their families to report such cases. Data from 2020 to 2024 indicates a troubling trend, with 742 recorded instances of abandoned vessels, primarily in regions such as the Middle East, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Between 2018 and 2024, 842 Filipino seafarers were documented as abandoned on various types of vessels, including fishing boats and bulk carriers.
Cacdac emphasized that laws protecting seafarers, enshrined in the Magna Carta signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., mandate that families be kept informed during investigations into missing persons. The DMW is obligated to provide information to the next of kin of seafarers facing abandonment or disappearance, including details pertinent to any fatalities.
The DMW reiterated its commitment to implementing the Magna Carta for Seafarers to protect against abandonment and exploitation. This commitment aligns with President Marcos Jr.’s directive to promote the welfare of seafarers. Instances of abandonment are deemed violations of both the Philippines’ laws and the international Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006.
The DMW highlighted existing measures designed to address abandonment, which include requirements for licensed manning agencies in the Philippines to monitor abandoned seafarers and ensure compliance with standards regarding wages, accommodation, food, medical care, and other essentials.
All Filipino seafarers and their families are encouraged to report abandonment cases to the DMW’s One Repatriation Command Center (ORCC). Licensed manning agencies and shipowners are also urged to notify the DMW within five days of any abandonment and to arrange immediate repatriation for affected seafarers. The DMW noted that failure to fulfill contractual obligations, such as wage payments, also constitutes abandonment under international standards.
If an LMA or shipowner fails to repatriate abandoned seafarers, the DMW will facilitate repatriation through its offices in the respective Port States, utilizing the AKSYON Fund dedicated to such emergencies. This comprehensive strategy aims to protect Filipino seafarers and ensure that they are supported in cases of abandonment or similar hardships.
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