MANILA, Philippines — Seven Filipino overseas contract workers arrived in Manila late Wednesday night, August 1after their vessel was struck by a drone at the Port of Odesa in Ukraine.
The crew members of the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier M/V Emil landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 aboard Cathay Pacific Airways flight CX913 following their repatriation.
The returning workers were met at the airport by Augusto San Diego III, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) assistant secretary for Sea-based OFW Concerns, along with representatives from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Medical Team.
Upon arrival, the crew underwent initial medical screening by the MIAA medical team and received airport and financial assistance from the DMW and OWWA.
"On behalf of our President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, we are glad about your safe arrival. Do not hesitate to approach your home, the DMW and OWWA, for the programs we offer to help you recover," San Diego said in Filipino.
"What happened to us will be a very important lesson, not to disregard and gamble with safety when passing through High-Risk and Warlike Zones," one of the seafarers stated in Filipino.
