By Marita Moaje
MANILA – Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac on Monday said the 18 Filipino seafarers placed under quarantine in the Netherlands following exposure to a hantavirus-hit ship will be released on June 18.
The Filipino crew members of MV Hondius were placed under quarantine after three guests of the cruise ship died of hantavirus.
“In the meantime, they are undergoing quarantine, two groups, 21 plus 17. The 21 hotel workers on the cruise ship are in Amsterdam, and the 17 deck and engine, plus three hotel workers, are in Rotterdam. So they’re undergoing quarantine, and they will be released on June 18,” Cacdac said at a press briefing at the DMW office in Mandaluyong City.
He said the DMW is in close coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippine embassy in The Hague, Dutch health officials, and the ship owner to ensure that Filipino seafarers comply with health protocols.
Cacdac clarified that all individuals under quarantine have tested negative so far and remain asymptomatic.
“So far, all of them have tested negative. No symptoms. And we hope it stays that way until June 18,” he said.
Meanwhile, DMW Undersecretary Felicitas Bay also underscored that mental health and wellness support continues throughout the quarantine period, with doctors and specialists conducting regular sessions and keeping communication channels open for daily monitoring.
“Meron po tayong mga kasamahan na (We have our own) doctors and experts handling wellness sessions for our seafarers,” she said.
Intensified monitoring
Aside from the quarantined crew in Europe, Philippine authorities said monitoring has been intensified for thousands of Filipino seafarers deployed across international waters, particularly in high-risk routes such as the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.
“Sa Strait of Hormuz, it still stands at around 1,500 who have crossed over, exited. But having said that, we still have around 3,000 still within the Persian Gulf,” Cacdac said.
He assured that despite not being able to go out of the ship, all the Filipino seafarers in the area are safe.
The seafarers, he added, continue working because the ship continues to operate.
The seafarers’ families also continue receiving updates and financial remittances, including mandated allotments.
“So tuloy-tuloy lang po itong pagmamonitor na ginagawa natin sa kanila, and hopefully, mabuksan uli yung Strait para maging regular na yung kanilang pagkakaroon ng exit (So we will continue monitoring them, and hopefully, the Strait will open again so that their exits can become regular),” Cacdac said.
He assured that communication lines remain active, with daily coordination between labor attachés, ship owners, and seafarers to ensure welfare checks and rapid response to emerging concerns. (PNA)
