Palace hails Pinoy crewmen who helped save passengers of Italian cruise ship

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday hailed the Filipino crewmembers of the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia for the heroism displayed in saving the passengers of the ill-fated luxury liner.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte assured the crew that the government would provide them with benefits and other assistance through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

“We want to join (in expressing) admiration for the seafarers,” Valte said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also hailed the Filipino crew for their heroism and dedication to their work.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario assured the crew of the government’s continued support and assistance.

“You are men and women of courage, heroism and dedication. We commend you for showing to the world the best traits of the Filipino seafarers. In the words of President Aquino, you are our ‘sailing ambassadors’,” Del Rosario said.

Del Rosario said the Philippine embassy in Rome had received positive feedback from other crewmembers and passengers about the Filipino crew’s brave acts manifesting competence, professionalism and humanity, even under extreme pressure.

Del Rosario said the DFA recognizes and appreciates all the assistance provided by the embassy in Rome, the Filipino community in Italy, the local residents of Giglio Island, and the Italian authorities.

Costa Crociere S.p.A, the company that owns the cruise ship, has given assurance that it will give full compensation to the Filipino crewmembers who lost their belongings during the tragedy.

Costa Crociere said they would issue a formal letter of undertaking detailing the company’s firm commitment to the Filipino crew.

On Thursday, the first batch of 108 Filipino crewmembers of the shipwrecked Costa Concordia arrived in Manila on board Cathay Pacific and Thai Airways flights from Rome.

Philippine Ambassador to Italy Virgilio Reyes Jr. personally assisted the Filipino crewmembers when they boarded their flight home.

Out of the 296 Filipino crewmembers of the Concordia, 182 came home, while three others are scheduled to leave Italy yesterday.

Before their flight home, the Filipino crew was offered a Thanksgiving Mass organized by Filipino priests at a local church in Rome near the Hilton Hotel where they were staying.

In his message after the mass, Reyes commended the Filipino crew for their courage, perseverance and professionalism.

He also thanked the members of the Filipino community for helping the embassy in providing basic necessities to the crew.

Embassy officials and concerned members of the Filipino community joined the Filipino seafarers in a simple dinner, during which they were given winter clothes, shoes, bags and other necessities.

The Filipino seafarers were commended for staying on to help evacuate other passengers from the cruise ship after its captain allegedly abandoned ship and fled to safety.

The 17-deck liner crashed into rocks off Giglio on the night of Jan. 13 with 4,229 passengers and crew from 60 countries on board and began to keel just as passengers were sitting down to supper at the start of their cruise.