Two stranded Pinoy seafarers off Sri Lanka are calling for help from the government after their fellow crew members died on their fishing vessel.
In an interview with Unang Hirit Thursday, one of the seafarers, Robert Maguigad, said they are already not feeling and want to return home.
“Sana po matulunngan na po kami dito, sir, na makauwi po. At sana po madala po kami kaagad sa ospital kasi may mga nararamdaman po kami na hindi mabuti katulad ng pananakit ng tiyan at masakit na lalamunan,” he said.
(We hope they could help us to go home. And I hope they could take us home because we are already feeling sick. We experience stomach pain and sore throat.)
Maguigad added four other members of their fishing vessel already died, and two of them are still stored inside the ship’s freezer.
He said the deceased crew suffered from swelling and later on from difficulty in breathing. Maguigad said they are the only Filipinos left in the vessel after one was sent home after getting hospitalized.
Also read: Coast Guard files motion to stop MV Vienna Wood crew from leaving PH
The seafarer also said they have no access to clean water.
He said they already notified their agency about their situation. The agency said that their condition reported to a welfare officer.
“Sabi po kasi ng ahensya namin na ipinagbabawal daw po ng Presidente ang magpa-repatriate ng mga marine crew dito sa Sri Lanka,” he said.
(Our agency said the President prohibits the repatriation of marine crews from Sri Lanka.)
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said concerned government agencies would summon the stranded seafarers’ manning agency.
Cacdac said OWWA would coordinate with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to help the seafarers.
“We will talk to DOLE and POEA para siguraduhing agaran ‘yung pagpapatawag doon sa manning agency at para panagutin ‘yung manning agency,” Cacdac said.
Cacdac said the agencies would contact the labor office and port authorities in Sri Lanka to assist the stranded Filipinos.