Around 3,000 Filipino seafarers aboard vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz are "not under attack" despite heightened tensions in the Middle East, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said on Friday.
"They are not in a precarious situation in a sense na sila in the line of fire… However, they do need to exit the strait. They do need to exit the Persian Gulf,” Cacdac said.
Cacdac said the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has been regularly meeting with licensed manning agencies to monitor the condition of Filipino crew members in the area.
He said 3,400 Filipino seafarers have already exited the Strait of Hormuz over the past months, while around 3,000 remain aboard ships awaiting the appropriate time to leave the area.
"Just to be clear, the 3,000 are not under attack. In fairness to both sides, they are in the Persian Gulf. The ships are running. The ships are seaworthy and running," Cacdac said.
Cacdac said the timing of their passage depends on the security situation in the region.
He added that the seafarers continue to perform their duties on board, receive their salaries and benefits, and have sufficient food, water and other basic necessities.
According to Cacdac, supplies continue to reach the vessels from coastal areas in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
"We're thankful to these countries for providing the necessary supplies," he said.
Cacdac said internet access and communication lines aboard the ships are available to allow seafarers to freely communicate with their families and with Philippine authorities.