DMW: IBF classifying Gulf of Aden as HRA to protect Filipino seafarers

MANILA, Philippines — The International Bargaining Forum’s (IBF) inclusion of the Gulf of Aden in the list of “high-risk areas” (HRAs) will provide additional security to Filipino seafarers in the area, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Tuesday.

“The expansion of the scope of ‘high-risk areas’ to include the Gulf of Aden serves as a necessary step towards providing stronger protection and promoting stricter security measures to safeguard Filipino seafarers and all seafarers working onboard ships navigating in such HRAs,” DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac said in a statement.

READ: Houthi rebel attack sets cargo ship ablaze in Gulf of Aden

On Feb. 16, the IBF declared the entire southern section of the Red Sea, the entire Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen, until the coast of Eritrea in the Horn of Africa as an HRA.

Filipino seafarers on board ships traveling HRAs are entitled to the right to refuse sailing, compensation benefits, and bonuses to their wages.

In December, the IBF also declared the southern section of the Red Sea and the Bab El-Mandeb Strait leading into the Gulf of Aden as HRAs.

READ: PH welcomes IBF’s high-risk area designation in Red Sea

During the past year, there were attempts from various groups to hijack vessels in the area with Filipino seafarers, but the Filipino seafarers remained safe.

“The DMW also calls for continued diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and to address the causes of the current conflict in the Middle East,” it added in the statement.