MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) urged shipowners with Filipino crew members to avoid the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, in light of the escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Shipowners are urged by the DMW to prioritize the welfare of their Filipino crew and asked them to reroute their vessels to avoid areas designated by the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and International Bargaining Forum (IBF) as 'high-risk and war-like.'