191 Pinoy crew on Dutch cruise ship being monitored in isolation -agency

At least 191 Filipino crew members are on the virus-hit and Florida-bound Dutch cruise ship that has been in limbo since cases of the coronavirus disease 2019  (COVID-19) were confirmed onboard, their manning agency said on Wednesday. 

United Philippine Lines, Inc. representative Mylene Lising told GMA News Online that the agency has been closely monitoring the situation of the Filipino crew.

Some of them already showed symptoms.

“Minamanmanan  natin 'yung sitwasyon nila, 191 silang Pinoy  sa ship na 'yun. Sa ngayon, ang sinabi sa akin ng principal ay naka-isolate silang lahat,” Lising told GMA News Online in a phone interview.

Holland America Line's MS Zaandam now faces an uncertain welcome at its planned destination in Florida due to the confirmed cases of COVID-19 onboard.

On Sunday, Holland America Line's MS Zaandam was allowed to pass through the Panama Canal on Sunday and had been stuck off Panama's Pacific coast after the company announced the infection.

Lising said that the Filipinos were being taken care of. The isolated Filipino crew have a hotline for counseling, basic needs, and medical attention.

“Meron din silang hotline for kung kailangan nila ng tubig. And meron din silang hotline for emergency, kung kunwari nahirapang huminga or whatever o mataas ang lagnat,” she said.

“Tinatawagan din sila periodically para i-check kung meron bang nag-fe-fever, kung ano ‘yung kalagayan nila,” she added, noting that these reports came from the principal agency.

Lising said she was also able to chat with one of the Filipino crew members, whom she refused to name for the sake of privacy.

Quoting the crew member, Lising said, “Sabi niya, okay naman daw siya, na na-isolate daw siya ng seven days dahil sa cold, pero never daw siyang nagka-fever.”

“Lahat daw sila naka-isolate, kahit ‘yung ibang department, 60 percent,” she added.

Turning emotional, Lising apologized for the "slow response" for the Filipino crew as she expressed frustration over the challenges in bringing them home.

"Kaya nagpapakumbaba na humihingi kami  ng paumanhin  kung mabagal ang pag-responde kasi  mahirap talaga. Ayaw namin ‘to para sa kanila,” she said.

“Kung pwede lang namin silang iuwi today, gagawin namin. Pero sana ma-realize na talagang ang daming obstacles. Ang dami, isa lang ‘yung logistics,’ she added.

Lising told GMA News Online that their agency has already forwarded questions, which were provided by the families of the Filipino crew in the Philippines, to the principal recruiter.

She said they have also asked information on the total number of Filipino crew who already tested positive for COVID-19, if there are any, as well as their identities.

“Siyempre sila, mas malala dahil nasa iisa silang barko na meron talagang may sakit, so takot sila. May nag-exhibit nga ng  symptoms,” Lising said.

“Kami ay maliit lamang na ahensya, so ang crew sa amin ay parang pamilya  na rin, kasi maliit lang kami so personal po ito sa amin,” she added. -MDM, GMA News