MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed on Friday (07 Mar 2025) that all reported cases of abandoned Filipino seafarers have been successfully rescued and repatriated to the Philippines.
During a press briefing, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac emphasized the DMW’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including seafarers who have been abandoned.
This aligns with the provisions of the amended Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), adopted by the International Labour Organization’s International Labour Conference (ILC).
Cacdac assured that the DMW remains vigilant in protecting seafarers facing abandonment situations, noting that the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in 2024, strengthens the DMW’s role in handling such cases.
“We have long been proactive in ensuring that Filipino seafarers are protected from abandonment,” said Cacdac.
According to DMW data, a total of 373 cases of abandoned Filipino seafarers were recorded between January and December 2024, across various vessels worldwide.
The most recent case involved the repatriation of three Filipino crew members from the salvaged Team Porter vessel, which sailed under a German flag.
Cacdac clarified that abandonment does not always involve physical abandonment. It can also include situations where a shipowner unilaterally severs ties with a seafarer or fails to amend their contract for at least two months, including non-payment of wages.
From 2018 to 2024, the DMW documented 1,035 abandonment cases, covering a variety of vessels including bulk carriers, yachts, and passenger ships. Notable recent cases include the Panamanian bulk carriers MV Atheras and Buenaventura, which reportedly paid their crews for January 2025, and the passenger ship MV Gemini, whose crew members were all repatriated by February 20, 2025.
Cacdac reiterated that the DMW does not hesitate to penalize manning agencies and shipowners involved in abandonment cases, ensuring seafarers receive their entitled benefits and proper treatment.
ia/mnm
MANILA — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has launched a full investigation into the disappearance of 28-year-old Filipino seafarer Ralph Bobiles, who went missing while onboard the MV Prestige Ace on December 5, 2024.
During a briefing on Thursday, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac announced the suspension of the Parola Maritime Agency Corporation’s license. The agency failed to provide sufficient information regarding the incident, including a captain’s report or investigation findings. Despite the ship’s crew being predominantly Filipino, only five out of 16 seafarers were presented for questioning.
The ship had recently departed from Veracruz, Mexico, en route to Baltimore, Maryland, when Bobiles vanished. Authorities are concerned that the crew failed to report his disappearance upon arrival in Baltimore, suggesting negligence.
Cacdac dismissed speculation about Bobiles taking his own life, emphasizing that he had been excited about a pending promotion. The seafarer had spoken with his wife shortly before his disappearance and was eager to advance in his career.
The DMW has vowed to hold both the manning agency and the ship owner accountable, with Cacdac stressing that Filipino seafarers’ families are entitled to full transparency under the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers. He reiterated that justice for Bobiles and his family, who are enduring significant grief, is the agency’s priority.
ia/mnm
MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has officially designated Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac as the Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
The appointment of Cacdac was formalized by Marcos on Thursday (25 April 2024), with the details disseminated to the media.
Cacdac previously assumed the role of officer in charge of the DMW following the passing of former Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople in August of last year.
Prior to his interim appointment to the Cabinet, Cacdac held key positions such as Executive Director V of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Executive Director V of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, and Undersecretary of the Department of Labor and Employment.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Stressing its commitment to safeguarding the welfare of Filipino seafarers, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Wednesday (24 April 2024) issued an order prohibiting their deployment on passenger and cruise ships that are set to traverse the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
In his Department Order No. 2, DMW officer-in-charge (OIC) Hans Leo Cacdac underscored that all Filipino seafarers to be employed for passenger and cruise vessels shall not be allowed to sail in the two bodies of water that were recently included in the list of high-risk areas and war-like zones.
“The DMW remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the well-being of Filipino seafarers. These measures reflect the DMW’s dedication to ensuring safe working conditions and protecting our seafaring workforce,” the DMW said in a statement.
Under DO 2, licensed manning agencies (LMAs) are required to sign an affirmation letter guaranteeing that the ship that will be boarded by the Filipino seafarers will not navigate the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden.
It also provides that Filipino seafarers listed as crew members must likewise sign an affirmation letter acknowledging that their vessel will not enter the two areas.
This affirmation letter, along with the vessel’s detailed itinerary, must be submitted to the DMW during the documentation of crew employment contracts or before their deployment.
It will then be uploaded to the DMW’s Online Processing System for Sea-based, along with the processed Standard Employment Contract (SEC).
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Good news to the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kuwait as the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Tuesday (26 March 2024) said it would help them if they want to avail of the Kuwaiti government’s amnesty program for overstaying foreign workers.
The DMW said in a statement that its office in Kuwait issued an advisory informing OFWs of the process and steps they need to follow to avail of amnesty.
It was gathered that under the program, overstaying foreigners may leave Kuwait without paying immigration fines.
However, the DMW pointed out that those with pending travel bans and criminal complaints or cases may only depart once these are resolved.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Beware of recruitment via social media as an unlicensed hiring firm was shut down on Monday (18 March 2024) by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for luring Filipino workers of high-paying jobs in Poland.
Warehouse staff, factory workers, and nurses were promised “mind-boggling” salaries ranging from P80,000 to P100,000.
However, the recruits will be asked to pay non-refundable processing fees worth P200,000 to P350,000, which can be settled in full or on a three-month installment basis.
Acting on reliable information and in coordination with the Quezon City police, the DMW- Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) shut down the operations of Tranvia Travel Agency located along P. Tuazon Boulevard in Cubao.
In a press statement, DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo J. Cacdac said: “We would like to recognize the efforts of our Filipino Community in Poland which called the attention of our Migrant Workers Office in Prague to investigate these illegal recruitment activities.”
“Without their help, we would not have thwarted Tranvia Travel’s illegal activities,” Cacdac added.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Surviving the attack of Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden, eleven (11) Filipino seafarers who were among the crew of the merchant ship will be coming home soon in the Philippines.
This was announced on Sunday (10 March 2024) by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) officer-in-charge (OIC) Hans Leo Cacdac who said among those who will be repatriated are 10 Filipinos who were unharmed, and one who was injured in the Houthi missile attack last Wednesday (6 March 2024).
“Itong uuwi sa Tuesday ay 11. Sampung unharmed at isang injured. May dalawa pang naiwan sa ospital na may major injuries, at ‘yung labi ng dalawa na nasawi,” Cacdac said in his interview with Super Radyo dzBB.
To recall, Houthi rebels launched a missile attack last March 6, killing three seafarers onboard the Greek-owned, Barbados-flagged ship True Confidence.
It was gathered that aboard were 15 Filipinos, four Vietnamese, and the Indian captain.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
AFTER BARELY SURVIVING the deadly Russian missile attack in the Black Sea that damaged the Liberian-flagged civilian vessel they were boarding, all Filipino seafarers, including three who were hurt, will be repatriated as soon as possible.
This was announced on Sunday by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) which also bared that a Filipino engine trainee had a fracture on his left hand but had a successful operation, while the two others — the ship’s captain and third mate — only suffered minor injuries.
“Isinasaayos ‘yung kanilang pagpapauwi sa ngayon dahil nga lahat sila may pinagdaanan na sitwasyon, na event na hindi pangkaraniwan. ‘Yan ang pag-uusap namin sa manning agency ngayon at hopefully in due time, makakauwi sila,” DMW officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.
According to a Reuters report, the Russian missile hit the crew’s vessel entering a Black Sea port in Odesa region.
Ukraine Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said the Liberian-flagged civilian vessel was supposed to transport iron ore to China.
One unidentified person was killed due to the incident while a port employee was also wounded aside from the three Filipino crew members.
The DMW OIC pointed out that the Filipino seafarers had to be sent back home to the Philippines as their ship was already damaged.
“Mainam na pauwiin muna sila at mahagkan nila ang kanilang mga pamilya, makapiling nila ang kanilang pamilya gawa nu’ng pinagdaanan nila. ‘Yan ay sinasagawa na rin ngayon,” Cacdac said. (ai/mnm)