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Pinoy Abroad

China-stranded Pinoy fishermen resort to filtering seawater


Filipino squid-fishermen stranded for more than a month off China's Fuzhou City have resorted to filtering seawater, despite the resulting drinking water tasting like rust, as they continued to run out of the bare necessities.

According to Oscar Oida's report on "24 Oras," the seafarers' Chinese captain had left the boat and the Filipinos had no other choice but to fend for themselves.

"Ang problema po namin, sir, hindi kami makadaong dahil nga po daw sa pandemic COVID-19 sir," Harold Fuentes, a fisherman, said.

In an interview on Unang Hirit on Friday, the 24 seafarers also lamented that they were no longer receiving wages from their employer and that their food was nearly exhausted.

"Nag-aalala na po ang aming magulang at pamilya diyan sa Pilipinas kaya nag-aalala rin po kami dito sa aming kaligtasan kasi pinapabayaan na kami ng mga Chinese dito kaya namatayan po kami ng kasama na Pilipino kasi wala po silang ginagawang paraan maski sa tubig kalawang na iniinom namin dito," added Fuentes.

"Nakakain na po kami, kaso lang po lugaw 'yung kanin po namin. At saka 'yung tubig namin may kalawang po. Isinasalang na lang po namin."

Fuentes said they were supposed to go back to the Philippines.

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Administrator Bernard Olalia said they had suspended the seafarers' manning agency for neglecting their workers.

Olalia also assured the seafarers regarding receiving their wages.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac meanwhile said they had coordinated with the Department of Foreign Affairs, and they were working for the repatriation of the seafarers.

"Mahirap po sa ngayon mag-pako ng exact date kung kailan sila makakauwi. But rest assured we are trying our best to bring them hope," said Cacdac. "If not in the next week, within this week, or within the next twoo weeks. Sa lalong madaling panahon po, sila ay mapapauwi natin."Joahna Lei Casilao/Jamil Santos/DVM, GMA News

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