Iloilo City lawmaker solves three-month seafarers’ woes

ILOILO City Lone District Rep. Julienne “Jam” Baronda successfully led the negotiation that ended the three-month plight of 13 Filipino and Indian seafarers off Iloilo Strait on her first day in office on Monday.

Baronda, who ran virtually unopposed in the recent elections, received a letter from six Filipino seafarers, none of whom were residents of Iloilo City, seeking her help over their unpaid salaries and the seaworthiness of their vessel on Saturday, June 28.

They and seven Indian crew members of MV Hirman Star were in an impasse as the owner allegedly wanted them to sail to Cebu or Singapore for repairs despite being not seaworthy.

Their salaries were also delayed as the ship owner allegedly wanted to would pay them only after they sail. The seafarers failed to reach an agreement with the foreign owner who arrived in Iloilo City a month ago. The crew have also barred anyone from getting aboard the vessel.

“I was surprised to learn about their problem. They have been stranded for three months already. So I immediately sent an email to DMW and OWWA. OWWA administrator Usec. PY Caunan arrived Monday morning and briefed me about the problem. I then convened a meeting with other government agencies that could help plus the ship owner and crewing agency. After about five hours of mediating between the ship owner and the stranded crew, they reached an agreement. And then we went up the vessel and fetched the crew. It was a collaboration of responsive government agencies whose officials have that resolute desire to serve the public and the trust of the seafarers to this representation that led to the swift conclusion of the problem,” Baronda said.

The six Filipino crew led by Capt. Arnold Piolo of Bacolod City disembarked Monday evening while the Indian nationals are expected to be done with immigration processes and be able to disembark on Tuesday.

“I salute DMW Sec. Hans Leo Cacdac who was as responsive as he was during the COVID pandemic where we also helped stranded OFWs. I thank Usec. PY Caunan and the DMW and OWWA men and women as well as the Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, Phil. Coast Guard, MARINA, and even the Iloilo City Police Office for their strong resolve to solve the problem,” Baronda added.

“I also would like to thank Pres. Bongbong Marcos who, I am told, was monitoring the situation, for increasing the financial assistance to our distressed OFWs. The six Filipino crew got P100,000 in assistance from DMW and OWWA,” the legislator further said.

“I am deeply honored because on my first day of work I was given the opportunity to solve the crisis that has caused stress and anxiety to our seafarers and their families for months. Our modern-day heroes deserve no less than a government response befitting a hero. We did just that. Thank God we succeeded,” Baronda concluded.

Capt. Piolo thanked Baronda for her quick response that ended their problem. “We are so thankful to Cong. Jam Baronda. Had it not been for her ready intervention, we might not have come to a conclusion. We were surprised by how quick she was in responding to our letter. Thank you so much, Cong. Jam, and to DMW, OWWA, Coast Guard, and everyone who helped,” he said.