Manning agencies that employ Philippines seafarers have been ordered by Manila to re-route or divert vessels manned by Filipino crew to avoid high-risk and war-like zones, particularly around the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Unlike previous orders (see below) this new order bans Filipino crewed ships from going through the war zones, whereas the previous orders mandated extra compensation and security (see 01 of s.2024, below) or banned crewing agencies from deploying Filippino seafarer to ships that had previously been attacked and which would go through high-risk zones.
The ban has been issued by the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers, which is charged by the Republic Act 11641 to obtain the best possible conditions of work that uphold the dignity of Overseas Filipino Workers. The new order (21 of 2025) also reiterates that the earlier rules (see below) must also be complied with.
Crewing agencies and principals are also required to honour the right of Filippino seafarers to refuse sailing in such areas and immediate and safe repatriation must be arranged for whoever invokes that right.
Manning agencies and principals remain “strictly prohibited” from deploying Filipino seafarers to any ship that was previously attacked, is traversing or intends to traverse ITF-IBF high-risk zones, and has been targeted by Houthis or other armed groups.
“This prohibition applies regardless of whether the incident occurred in the past, is ongoing, or is foreseeable in the same designated zones,” the order reads.
Philippines seafarers and the world seafaring workforce
Filippino seafarers account for a considerable percentage of the world’s seafaring workforce. According to a 2025 Philippines Information Agency statement, there are approximately 500,000 Filippino seafarers deployed in the world (although it is not clear if these crew are all deployed on cargo ships, fishing vessels, offshore vessels etc).
As of 2021, nationals from the Philippines were reported in the International Chamber of Shipping / BIMCO “Seafarer Workforce Report” as accounting for at least 252,000 of the crew on the commercial cargo-carrying fleet (i.e. Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping-qualified seafarers on the merchant fleet, accounting for 81,090 officers and 171,300 ratings).
The International Chamber of Shipping reports that the world population of seafarers serving on cargo ships is approximately 1.89 million people, of which approximately 857,000 are officers and just over one million are ratings. Going by the 2021 ICS / BIMCO data, it can therefore be roughly estimated therefore that Philippines nationals probably account for about 9.5% of global merchant vessel officers and over 16.5% of ratings i.e. just over 13.3% of all merchant fleet seafarers.
Enforcement
The new order emphasises that violation will be subject to sanctions including but not limited to suspension or cancellation of appropriate licences. Local law firm Respicio & Co notes that manning agencies that are in breach of various departmental rules “can face a spectrum of penalties” ranging from warning letters, suspension and cancellation of licence, fines, civil liability and damages, and even criminal liability.
Local media reports indicate that the Department of Migrant Workers has suspended the licence of the principal and manning agency that related to the tragic passage of the Eternity C through the Southern Red Sea, the vessel that was attacked by Houthi terrorists and which led to the deaths of at least four seafarers. It is currently thought that ten have been rescued, nine are confirmed or presumed to be dead, and six may have been kidnapped by the Houthis.
DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac told reporters in a press conference that the Department could file administrative, civil, and criminal charges against the shipowner and manning agency.
