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The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday reiterated its advice to Filipino seafarers on board vessels passing through the dangerous waters off Somalia.

There are safe coordinates identified there. So the instruction is: dont get out of the safe lanes, said DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr.,

The DFA is pushing for a deployment ban in Somali waters following the spate of abductions of Filipino seamen.

On Wednesday, 26 more Filipino seafarers from a Greek-owned freighter were seized by pirates off Somalia.

We have issued directives for them not to enter the 200-mile economic exclusive zone of Somalia, Conejos said.

We have encouraged the local manning agent to inform their principals, if possible, once you enter this narrow gap in the Gulf of Aden, if possible they should go by convoy, he added.

Conejos said that they are also making representations with the joint task force of Africa. The task force is a combination of naval ships from the US, Europe, Canada and other participating forces to patrol the areas more effectively.

Meanwhile, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito Roque noted that Somali pirates are having longer reaches on the waters close to Somalia.

The spate of hijacking incidents has affected ships and the normal routes.

We are increasing our coordination now with the manning agencies so that they can advice their respective principals to at least adhere to our earlier advisory to remain within the patrol area of the combined forces in that Gulf so that they can be protected, Roque said.

Roque explained that it would be impossible to determine if Filipino seafarers still on the waiting list will be deployed on vessels that pass through the Gulf of Aden.

He said this is because the ships do not have predetermined routes for the duration of the contracts of our seafarers, adding that the traditional route of the vessel could change at any particular time.

The DOLE chief said it might be difficult to impose a ban since there is no predetermined route for every vessel.

What happens is that the DOLE, in cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs, have released an advisory to the manning agencies to advice their respective principals, giving them the longitude and latitude which are the protected areas of the combined forces in the Gulf where their ships could pass through, he said.

Concerned manning agencies, meanwhile, are contacting the families of Filipino seafarers who are still held captive by pirates.

We are in close coordination with their respective agencies here and with their principals to continue with the negotiations with the hostage taker so that the vessel and the entire crew can be released, he said.

He disclosed that local manning agencies will be called in a meeting in the next few days to discuss additional security measures for the safety of Filipino seafarers.

At the same time we would like to elevate also the level of negotiation with their employers, ship owners for those who are already hostage in Somalia, said Roque. -- Tony Velasquez, ANCs Top Story