00:00Finally, the Philippines has brought home the 17 Filipino seafarers
00:05who were rescued by the Huti Rebels in the Red Sea in 2023.
00:09Their arrival in the country was emotional.
00:12Aside from their families, they were also welcomed by the government agencies.
00:18According to the Department of Migrant Workers Secretary, Hans Leo Cactac,
00:22the seafarers were asked to return to the Philippines immediately.
00:26They had to go through medical protocols and debriefing.
00:30The DMW was also asking for the assistance and benefits received by the seafarers to their agencies.
00:37President Ferdinand R. Marquez Jr. was the first to thank Oman
00:42for his partnership in negotiating to free the refugees.
00:57...in this case, all throughout the 428 days.
01:02So that's number one.
01:03Number two, we provided the necessary financial assistance to the families along the way.
01:09Medical assistance provided to families.
01:11Education and scholarship, yes.
01:13That will be among the next round of assistance packages we will provide.
01:20So there are also reintegration, livelihood packages in store for them.
