Six distressed Filipino seafarers from Suriname safely arrived in the Philippines on Friday evening, December 26, 2025, landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City aboard KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

The returning workers were personally welcomed by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Assistant Secretary Maria Regina Angela Galias, who immediately extended financial assistance through the AKSYON Fund as initial support. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) also facilitated their temporary hotel accommodation and arranged transportation for their return to their respective home provinces.

The successful repatriation was made possible through the coordinated efforts of the Migrant Workers Office in Washington, D.C., the Seabased Accreditation Bureau, and the AKSYON Unit of the DMW, reflecting a multi-agency response to overseas worker distress.

The seafarers disclosed that they had endured inhumane working conditions and had not received their wages for more than two months while deployed. The DMW confirmed that the affected workers will be provided legal assistance and will formally pursue their claims beginning January 2026.

The department reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the welfare and rights of overseas Filipino workers and ensuring that Filipinos in distress abroad receive swift assistance, protection, and justice.

— Via TPNC Global Newsdesk