2 Filipino survivors from sea mishap off Japan coming home Saturday – DOLE

MANILA, Philippines — The two Filipino seafarers, who are so far the only survivors of the ill-fated Gulf Livestock 1 vessel that sank off Japan, are set to come home to the Philippines Saturday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Friday.

In a report to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Osaka labor attaché Elizabeth Marie Estrada said chief officer Eduardo Sareno and deckhand Jay-nel Rosales would arrive in Manila Saturday afternoon via a Philippine Airlines flight from Japan’s Narita Airport.

The Panamanian-flag vessel owned by Gulf Navigation Holding based in the UAE capsized early this month after experiencing engine trouble amid a typhoon in the seas in Southern Japan.

The cargo vessel was carrying 43 crew members, 39 of whom are from the Philippines, two from Australia, and another two from New Zealand.

Sareno was the first to be found by Japanese rescuers last September 3 while Rosales was rescued a day after.

Both were confined to the Kagoshima-ken Kenritsu Ooshima Hospital and were later transferred to the Hotel New Amami while awaiting repatriation to the Philippines, according to DOLE.

The POLO in Osaka, DOLE noted, constantly monitored the physical and mental well-being of the two, calling them regularly to provide emotional support.

POLO also sent each of the two survivors’ luggage full of clothing and toiletries as well as $200 (approximately P9,700) for their needs.

The Japanese Coast Guard, meanwhile, continues its search and rescue operations for the still missing crew. [ac]