MORE than 4,000 Filipino seafarers were stranded at the Strait of Hormuz amid the war between Iran and Israel, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro told the Senate Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (Protect) ad hoc committee last Monday, April 13, that of the 20,000 seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, 4,862 are Filipinos.
“Just to have an overview of the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz. The UN estimates that as of March 31, 2026, some 20,000 seafarers remain stranded in 2,000 ships in the Strait of Hormuz as the war in the Middle East continues. This includes oil and gas tankers, bulk carriers, and so on,” Lazaro said.
She added that as of April 11, 4,862 Filipino seafarers aboard 463 vessels were stranded at the said waterway.
Lazaro said that the government is pursuing diplomatic channels to ensure the safe movement of Philippine-flagged ships in the region.
“We expect tensions to escalate following President (Donald) Trump’s pronouncement of a blockade of all traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,” she said.
She mentioned, however, that the US military clarified that the blockade would apply only to maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and does not include the Strait of Hormuz.
The blockade began last Monday, April 13.
Lazaro said the Philippines requested Iran to allow the passage of four Philippine-flagged vessels carrying mostly chemical cargo.
“I got a call from the Iranian Ambassador last Saturday saying that it’s just a matter of time for these vessels to be cleared and to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” she said.
Diplomatic engagements continue, Lazaro said, noting that while there has been no breakthrough in negotiations, there has also been no breakdown and further talks are expected in the coming days.
From an average of 3,000 vessels that sailed through the strait monthly prior to the conflict, open-source data indicate that by the first week of April, fewer than 200 ships were able to pass through the route.
The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) earlier reported around 100 Philippine-flagged vessels operating in the region.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the committee, commended the DFA’s efforts in securing additional petroleum supply for the country through diplomatic means.
