Manila, Philippines – It has been two weeks since the Iranian government promised the Philippines that Philippine-flagged vessels would be allowed to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz amid security concerns in the Middle East.
The Department of Foreign Affairs previously said that the agreement between Iran and the Philippines on the safe passage of Philippine-flagged vessels, energy supplies, and Filipino crew members through the Strait of Hormuz remains in place.
However, according to the Department of Migrant (DMW), no Philippine ships have yet crossed, not even those carrying Filipino Seafarers.
On April 13, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro said that Manila expects two to three Philippine ships to cross on the gateways to global oil supplies.
The government has also reported that Filipinos have backed out of repatriation because of the improving situation in the Middle East.
But Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said that there are still 2,000 Filipinos scheduled to return home in the coming days.
According to the DMW, more than five thousand Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have been evacuated from the Middle East, with the help of government-funded charter flights.
Meanwhile, there are still no developments in the search and rescue operations regarding the condition and whereabouts of George Miranda – a Filipino seafarer who remains missing due to the attack in the Strait of Hormuz, which happened in March.
However, the agency assured to continuously provide assistance to relatives and family of Miranda, who are still hoping that the Filipino seafarer is safe.—Alvin Pelobello, Eurotv News