Ten Filipino crew members of the Dutch-flagged vessel MV Minervagracht successfully returned to the Philippines on October 4, 2025, aboard Air France Flight No. 224 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. They were personally welcomed by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac, in compliance with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to provide comprehensive assistance to all affected seafarers.
The repatriation follows the attack on the MV Minervagracht in the Gulf of Aden on September 29, 2025. The remaining two Filipino crew members, who sustained injuries in the incident, are currently undergoing medical treatment and recovery abroad, with the DMW closely monitoring their condition and arranging for their eventual safe return.
President Marcos Jr. issued a clear directive to prioritize the welfare of the returning seafarers. “Our crew members are really pitiful in this situation, so let’s give them full assistance,” the President stated, instructing the DMW and other relevant agencies to ensure that all repatriated migrants receive adequate assistance, protection, and reintegration support.
Secretary Cacdac confirmed that the DMW has fully implemented the President’s order to facilitate the crew’s smooth transition back to their normal lives. “We will help you with your full restoration, in finding a job again, earning a livelihood, and training,” Secretary Cacdac told the returning seafarers. “But what’s important is to be with your family first.”
Upon arrival, the returning seafarers immediately received a coordinated package of support from multiple government agencies:
Financial Assistance: They were provided with financial aid from the DMW, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Training and Livelihood: The crew received training vouchers from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to help them seek new job opportunities or livelihood training.
Health and Wellness: The DMW is offering health services, including physical and mental health support and psychosocial counseling, to augment the assistance provided by their licensed manning agency.
Benefits and Entitlements: Secretary Cacdac assured the crew that the DMW will ensure the proper delivery of all eligible benefits and entitlements under their existing contracts.
The successful and safe return of the seafarers was a product of collaborative efforts involving the Philippine Embassy in Ankara, the Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul, Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs), and the licensed manning agency and its local agent.
Secretary Cacdac was joined at NAIA Terminal 3 by other key officials, including OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan, DFA Assistant Secretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Ezzedin Tago, and other representatives from the DMW, OWWA, DFA, MIAA Medical Team, and DSWD.
