OWWA: Pinoys in Pacific Ocean sunken ship home by next week

The four Filipino survivors in the recent collision of Taiwanese and Korean vessels are expected to be home by next week, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said on Friday.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said that from Papua New Guinea-Solomon Islands, the survivors have been transported to Taiwan and are under quarantine.

“In due time, sa pagkakaintindi ko by next week makakauwi na sila" (based on my understanding by next week they will be back home), he said.

On June 8, Korean Reefer Ship Momyo sank following its collision with the Taiwanese vessel Viva Fafa in the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Four Filipino sailors were among the 31 survivors from the incident.

On Thursday, the four Pinoys appealed to the Department of Foreign Affairs and OWWA to help expedite the processing of their travel documents so they could already go back to the Philippines.

Cacdac said they are just waiting for the four Filipino crew to finish their quarantine in Taiwan before they assist them in their return to the country.

Likewise, Cacdac said that the OWWA is ready to assist Filipinos who are possibly affected by the recent Afghanistan earthquake that has left some 1,000 people dead.

“We’ve been helping the Afghan OFWs. We stand ready once again to assist at nakaantabay tayo (and we are monitoring). We are coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs,” he said. —LBG, GMA News