Sailors’ Society has opened two new Seafarers’ Drop-in Centres with birthing facilities in the Philippines thanks to financial support from Swire Pacific Offshore Operations (Pte) Ltd., The China Navigation Co. Pte. Ltd. and the Anscor Swire Ship Management Dependents Association (ASSMDA).

The centre in Leyte includes a birthing facility and will benefit approximately 1,000 households. Its counterpart in Cebu, which was co-funded by the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP), will help almost 7,000 families.

From Left: Martin Pitt, Simon Bennett (Swire Pacific Offshore Operations (Pte) Ltd., The China Navigation Co. Pte. Ltd.) Ofelia Villanueva, Dr Teodioso Alcantara (Medical Director, AMOSUP Seamen’s Hospital, Cebu), Jeffrey Barreto (Barangay Ticad Captain), Gavin Lim (Sailors’ Society), Dr Christobelle Paneiras (Municipal Health Office) and Josette Tan (Municipal Councillor and the Chairperson for the Committee on Health)

Since Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines in 2013, Sailors’ Society has helped rebuild houses and lives in the areas worst affected.

The maritime welfare charity has expanded its programme work in the last couple of years, reaching out to 400,000 seafarers in 2016.

Sailors’ Society works internationally and aims to transform the lives of seafarers and their families at home, in port and at sea through the delivery of chaplaincy, education and the relief of poverty and distress.

The Philippines is key to world trade, with a large percentage of the world’s 1.6 million seafarers coming from the country.

Sandra Welch, Sailors’ Society’s deputy chief executive and director of programme, said: “Seafarers can spend many months at sea and it can be incredibly difficult for the loved ones they leave behind at home.

“Sailors’ Society is committed to transforming lives in seafaring communities and we are really grateful to Swire Offshore, ASSMDA and AMOSUP for helping fund these new centres.”

Source: Sailors’ Society