Eleven Filipino crew members of the MV True Confidence, the civilian bulk carrier that was attacked by the Houthis last week, have safely arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday, March 12.
In a Facebook post, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said the crew members received immediate assistance from the national government following their arrival.
The seafarers will be receiving medical and physical check-ups from the Department of Health (DOH), as well as financial support worth P50,000 each from the DMW, comprehensive reintegration support, livelihood aid worth P20,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and scholarship and training vouchers from TESDA.
The surviving seafarers were met by several officials including House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs Chairman Rep. Ron Salo and DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac together with Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega and Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
The eleven repatriates were among the 15 Filipino crew members on board the Barbados-flagged, Greek-operated merchant ship True Confidence which the Houthis attacked last week, killing three sailors, including two Filipinos. Two other Filipinos were said hurt in the tragedy.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is currently working towards repatriating the bodies of the two deceased Filipinos upon the vessel’s arrival in Oman.