MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo has yet to act on the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ban the deployment of Filipino seafarers to vessels sailing dangerous waters.
“While awaiting the guidelines from the President, it will remain the way it is. There is no ban yet,” Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said.
According to Ermita, Mrs. Arroyo is thoroughly studying the DFA’s recommendations as well as the position of the labor department, which is concerned about the loss of revenue and employment opportunities that the ban would cause.
On Tuesday, Agence France-Presse reported that Somali pirates released Greek-owned cargo ship MV Filitsa. The vessel was seized in the Indian Ocean on November 10, 2009.
The ship with a crew of 3 Greeks and 19 Filipinos is reportedly on its way to Mombasa in Kenya.
Ermita said that Somali pirates earlier released 16 Filipinos on board another Greek vessel, MV Maran Centaurus, after almost 2 months in captivity. The said vessel was hijacked on Nov. 29 in the Somali Bassin, 600 nautical miles north east of the Seychelles.
A total of 402 Filipino seamen in 33 ships have been released since 2006. A total 460 Filipino seamen serving aboard 38 sea vessels have been kidnapped.
Ermita added that 58 seamen on board 5 vessels remain in the hands of the pirates. With Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
