Seafarers make their homecoming on October 4. Photo from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration/FB
The 10 Filipino seafarers aboard the MV Minervagracht have safely arrived in the Philippines following a Houthi attack by the Gulf of Aden, announced the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) on Sunday.
The seafarers rode Air France Flight AF224 and landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 yesterday evening, October 4. They were personally greeted by government officials such as Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac and OWWA Administrator Patricia Caunan.
Cacdac has ensured assistance and protection for the crew members, including financial assistance, reintegration support, and psychosocial counseling. Additionally, Caunan assured they will continue to receive aid in the form of livelihood programs, health support, and reintegration services.
The agency immediately provided airport assistance, food and financial assistance, and transportation assistance to allow the mariners to reach their respective provinces and for transient accommodation in between connecting flights for far-flung areas.
According to a report, Dutch cargo vessel MV Minervagracht was attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Monday, September 29, as it supposedly violated the entry ban at Palestine ports.
This successful repatriation was achieved through collaboration among the Philippine Embassy in Ankara, the Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul, the Migrant Workers Offices and their licensed manning agency, along with the local agent in Istanbul.
Overall, 338 seafarers from the MV Minervagracht have been brought home since January this year; combined with Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who have been repatriated from other regions like Jeddah and Kuwait since the beginning of 2025, their number has reached 1,831.
