POEA assures public of repatriation, assistance to 17 Pinoy seafarers stranded in China

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) assured the public on Friday the repatriation of 17 Filipino seafarers stranded in China at the soonest time possible.

POEA administrator Bernard Olalia was referring to the crew members of MV Angelic Power who have been stranded for 17 months and counting.

MV Angelic Power is a Greek-flagged bulk carrier which has been grounded due to a dispute between the cargo receiver Guangzhou South China Coal Trade Center Co. and the vessel’s owner Angeliki Dynamic Investment Corp.

“We have contacted the Magsaysay company, the manning agency, for the repatriation of our 17 seafarers. They have been stuck before the COVID-19 pandemic [hit] last year, their contracts have expired, and we want them to be able to go back home soon so they won’t be exposed to unsafe condition,” Olalia said during the Laging Handa briefing which coincided with Seafarers’ Day.

“We also reached out to China in ironing out the documents they need,” he added.

Likewise, Olalia said that the manning agency has assured them that the 17 stranded Filipino seafarers will be provided compensation pending their repatriation.

“They will be provided sustenance, including food, and their families will be given their monthly salary called allotment, until they return home,” Olalia said.

He said that from 15,000 seafarers deployed in January, it has increased to 30,000 by May and closer to pre-COVID-19 pandemic level of at least, 40,000 a year.

Olalia said the government has also set aside a green lane for seafarers in the country to allow immediate crew change given the restrictions imposed amid the  COVID-19 pandemic.—AOL, GMA News