100 Pinoy crew members of stricken ship in Italy now in PHL

(UPDATED 1:20 p.m.) - Some 100 Filipino crewmembers of Costa Concordia arrived in the Philippines on Thursday, nearly a week after the ship ran aground off the Giglio Island in Italy.   The first of the 296 workers on the ship arrived at 11:00 a.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport aboard the Cathay Pacific flight CX-907, a report on GMA News TV’s “Balitanghali” said.   GMA News reporter Saleema Refran said some of the crewmembers were still in their uniforms since they were not able to save any of their belongings.   The second batch composed of 68 Filipinos arrived at 12:27 p.m, a report of radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen said. Many of the returning Filipinos said they failed to save any belongings, except for the clothes and life vests they were wearing when they were rescued.    In an interview with “Balitanghali” anchor Raffy Tima on Thursday, Labor Communications Director Nicon Fameronag affirmed that the crewmembers will receive repatriation assistance and other benefits.   Fameronag said the manning agencies, Magsaysay Maritime Corporation and CTI Ocean Crew—which deployed 291 and five Filipinos, respectively—promised to take care of the crewmembers’ welfare.   “Sa ilalim ng kanilang employment contract, babayaran sila ng suweldo at ‘yung ibang benepisyo, kasama ‘yung termination pay saka ‘yung kanilang repatriation expenses,” he said.   The Filipino crew was lauded for helping the passengers of the ship amid the panic the incident ensued. In a report, a French passenger said they “roped themselves together” to enable the passengers to get out of the ship before it went down. Earlier, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the employers of the Filipino seafarers provided repatriation assistance, including cash advances for their trip home.   “Other compensation includes payment for loss of personal belongings in the amount provided in the contract, including payment of Injury/sick wages if any seafarer suffers injury as a result of the incident,” she added in a news release on the Official Gazette website. - with Rose-An Jessica Dioquino, VVP, GMA News