Manila: The remains of a Filipino Second Engineer who died from injuries sustained in a drone attack involving the MV Gas Lisbon in the Black Sea on July 21 have been brought home to the Philippines. In a news release Friday, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said the remains arrived Thursday evening aboard Turkish Airlines flight TK084 from Romania.
According to Philippines News Agency, the OWWA, together with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and the seafarer's licensed manning agency, coordinated the airport assistance and the transport of the remains to his home province. 'Kasabay ng kanyang pag-uwi, tiniyak ng Overseas Workers Welfare Administration ang maayos na pag-asikaso sa kanyang labi at ang tuloy-tuloy na suporta sa kanyang naulilang pamilya hanggang sa kanyang huling pag-uwi sa Caramoan, Camarines Sur (Along with his return, the OWWA ensured the proper handling of his remains and continued support for his bereaved family until his final return to Caramoan, Camarines Sur),' OWWA Chief Patricia Yvonne Caunan said.
The DMW said the Liberia-flagged LPG tanker MV Gas Lisbon was carrying nine Filipino seafarers when it was struck in the Black Sea. Romanian emergency responders rescued the crew and brought three injured Filipino seafarers to Tulcea County Hospital. Unfortunately, the Second Engineer died from his injuries on July 23. The other two injured seafarers were repatriated to the Philippines on Aug. 3.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac on Aug. 5 led a Philippine delegation to Tulcea County Hospital for a private tribute to the fallen seafarer and offered prayers, in recognition of his service and sacrifice as a Filipino seafarer, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. 'Today, we honor a Filipino whose dedication, professionalism, and sacrifice embody the resilience and excellence of our seafarers,' Cacdac said during the visit in Tulcea. 'As we mourn this tragic loss, we reaffirm our commitment to bringing him home with dignity and ensuring that his family receives the full support of the Philippine government.'
The OWWA said its assistance to the family began even before the remains arrived in the Philippines, noting that officials from its Regional Welfare Office already visited the family in Caramoan to extend condolences, assess their immediate needs, and guide them through the benefits and services available to them. The agency said this includes death and burial benefits, inclusion in the Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP), and other applicable welfare assistance. The OWWA vowed to provide continued guidance to the family through the processing of the benefits they may receive. 'Hindi natatapos sa repatriation ang Alagang OWWA (Alagang OWWA does not end in repatriation),' Caunan said.
