By Marita Moaje
MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said it is working on the immediate repatriation of the 20 Filipino seafarers aboard the cargo ship M/V MSC Elsa 3 that sank off the coast of southwestern India over the weekend.
In a news release issued on Wednesday evening, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac confirmed that all Filipino crew members are safe and are staying at a hotel in Kochi.
“The 20 Pinoy seafarers were safe and now in constant communication with their families for emotional support while awaiting for their repatriation,” he said.
The DMW, in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi, the local manning agency, and the ship’s principal in India, is facilitating the seafarers’ immediate repatriation.
Temporary travel documents are being processed after the crew lost their passports and seafarer registration cards, which were left aboard the sunken vessel.
The DMW is also coordinating with the Office of Migration Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs to fast-track the process.
Cacdac said the DMW has directed the manning agency to ensure that the basic needs of the affected crew are met, as they were unable to retrieve personal belongings.
Legal assistance and interpreters are also provided as the seafarers participate in the ongoing investigation by Indian authorities.
The M/V MSC Elsa 3, a Liberian-flagged cargo vessel, capsized off the coast of the port city of Kochi in India’s Kerala state on May 24.
Authorities continue to probe into the cause of the incident while ensuring the welfare of the crew involved.
The DMW assured the public that it would continue to monitor developments and provide full support to seafarers and their families.
“One of the directives of our President Ferdinand (R.) Marcos Jr. is to always ensure the safety and well-being of our seafarers, much especially during unfortunate situations,” Cacdac said. (PNA)
