Sunken vessel Pinoy crew get aid

They will get help from the government in the form of livelihood assistance and other benefits

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has committed to provide assistance to the survivors and casualties of the Gulf Livestock

1, a cargo ship that sank off the turbulent waters of southern Japan early this month.

On Sunday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the government will provide the full support to the two survivors and the families of the seafarer who was found dead as well as those who are still missing.

“They will get help from the government in the form of livelihood assistance and other benefits,” Bello said.

According to Bello, the labor department was also scouting for employment opportunities for the two seafarers who survived the tragedy.

“We are looking at possible job opportunities for them in other shipping companies in case they want to get back at work as soon as possible,” he stressed.

“The labor department has started coordinating with foreign employers who need overseas Filipino workers (OFW), Bello said. These are companies in countries where restrictions have been eased due to improving health conditions,” he added

On Saturday, 19 September, the survivors, Eduardo Sareno and Jay-Nel Rosales, of the ill-fated cargo vessel have arrived in the country.

Bello lauded the two for their courage and will to survive the violent seas.

“I admire the never-say-die attitude of our seamen in the face of great danger, a trait common to many Filipinos particularly our OFW,” Bello said.

“Filipino seafarers are one of the bravest in the world. That’s why many employers prefer their company at sea,” he added.

Sareno and Rosales were flown home from Tokyo via Philippine Airlines after undergoing medical checkups and spending weeks in hotel quarantine following health protocols in Japan to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The two are awaiting their COVID-19 test results before they’ll be brought to their hometowns.