The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said the number of Filipino sailors who died after their ships were attacked while passing through the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing Middle East conflict has risen to five.
This, after the DMW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac told reporters at the sidelines opening of the two-day Philippine Maritime Convention 2026 at the Manila Hotel last Tuesday that two of the seafarers, who went missing in the Strait of Hormuz, were now included in the list of fatalities in the said waterway.
Citing information from DMW Director Augusto B. San Diego III, he said there are now five Filipino sailors, who died in the Strait, and one more sailor, who remain missing in the Strait of Hormuz-the crucial waterway where 20 percent of the world’s oil passes through.
Iran continues to maintain some control of the said Strait limiting the number of ships which can transit the said waterway.
As the war between the United States and Iran continue to drag the entire Middle East to escalating conflict, Cacdac said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of the National Defense (DND) has recommended to DMW to discourage shipowners from sending Filipino sailors in the Strait of Hormuz.
‘We’ve sent the policy advisory already to the manning agents and ship owners to avoid the Strait of Hormuz carrying Filipino seafarers on board,’ Cacdac said.
In the case of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, where the Iran-backed Houthi militants gained significant control, he said no Filipino sailors passed through the said waterway.
‘As far as we know, no vessels with Filipino seafarers on board are sailing there anymore, given that the Bab el-Mandeb is a narrower passage-a narrower body of water,’ Cacdac said.
Outside of the Middle East, DMW also reported Filipino sailors were also affected by the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea.
In his speech during the Philippine Maritime Convention 2026, the DMW chief highlighted the need for maritime stakeholders to tackle emerging security risks and trends such as technology, digitalization, and artificial intelligence. Samuel P. Medenilla
He said they should also discuss transition toward greener shipping, which will require our seafarers to develop new skills and competencies as well as the implementation of Republic Act No. 12021 or the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers.
‘These developments compel us to look beyond the systems that we have today. So, we have to ask ourselves some important questions,’ Cacdac said.
‘Our objective of course is not simply to comply with international standards and our own respective partnership alliances and agreements. We should also participate meaningfully in continuing conversation about the future of global seafaring. The Philippines still has much to contribute,’ he added.
With the 600,000 deployed Filipino seafarers abroad, DMW said the country remains the world’s top supplier of manpower to shipping companies.
Cacdac said President Ferdinand Marcos will be attending the second day of the convention on Wednesday to show his support for the country seafarers.