The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed that 38 Filipino crew members of the cruise vessel MV Hondius remain under quarantine in the Netherlands following health protocols related to a reported hantavirus case onboard.

DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac, together with Assistant Secretary Jerome Pampolina and Director Augusto San Diego, traveled to the Netherlands to personally check the condition of the affected Filipino seafarers and coordinate with Dutch authorities and the ship owner, Oceanwide Expeditions.

According to the DMW, the 38 Filipinos are composed of 24 hotel workers and 14 deck and engine crew members. Twenty-one crew members are currently quarantined in Amsterdam, while 17 others are staying in Rotterdam after arriving onboard the vessel.

Secretary Cacdac said all Filipino crew members continue to test negative and remain asymptomatic. He also clarified that the crew member reportedly infected with hantavirus was a Dutch national and not Filipino.

The quarantine period is expected to end on June 18, although final flight arrangements back to the Philippines are still being coordinated with the ship owner and government agencies.
DMW also assured that the seafarers continue receiving their salaries and allowances during quarantine. The agency added that most of the crew members still intend to continue working at sea after returning home to the Philippines.

The Philippine government, through DMW, DFA, DOH, and OWWA, is also preparing financial, psychosocial, and reintegration assistance for the returning seafarers.