THE shipping industry in the country is now slowly recovering seven months after the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) a pandemic, said the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

In a televised press briefing, POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said that close to 50,000 Filipino seafarers have been deployed in the month of September alone.

"Last month alone, we already saw no less than 49,000 seafarers have been deployed as part of our normal deployment procedures," said Olalia on Friday, October 2.

"This means that the industry and deployment of seafarers is slowly resuming activity," he added.

Olalia said they first noticed the revival of the shipping industry back in July and it has gradually grown ever since.

"July, August, and September, the number of deployment has been gradually growing," he said.

The labor official said this only proves that the decline in the deployment was only temporary.

"This is not permanent as this is only due to the lockdown and travel restrictions," said Olalia.

To note, Filipino seafarers comprise one-third of the world’s shipping crews. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)