DMW, Owwa, Tesda give aid to 17 freed seafarers

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) met on Tuesday with the 17 Filipino seafarers who returned last week to the Philippines after being held captive for 428 days by Houthi rebels.

The seafarers and their families who attended the luncheon and thanksgiving mass received financial assistance, training certificates, and gift bags from the DMW, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).

READ: 17 Filipino seafarers held captive in Yemen back home

Migrant Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac thanked Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo for safely bringing home the “Courageous 17” and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista for assisting in their repatriation.

The 17 seafarers were taken hostage when their cargo ship, MV Galaxy, was attacked by the Houthis in the Red Sea in November 2023. —Jacob Lazaro