Costa Concordia seafarers receive $2 million in claims

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino crewmembers of the ill-fated Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia have already received money claims amounting to $2.048 million, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said 281 of the 291 seafarer claimants have received their checks representing their unexpired embarkation contract and loss of personal belongings.

“The average claim of affected seafarer was pegged at $7,000,” Baldoz said, noting that 10 of the seafarers are still in the provinces and have yet to appear before the National Conciliation and Mediation Board to get their checks.

Last January, the Costa Concordia struck a rock in the Tyrrhean Sea just off the shore of Isola del Giglio, near the western coast of Italy. All but 33 of the 3,229 passengers and crew of 1,023, which included the 291 Filipino seafarers, were saved.