Transporation Secretary Leandro Mendoza told APEC transporation ministers that Filipinos and Philippine-flagged vessels are 'in the lowest category in terms of priority in (naval) escorts in Somalia.' 'Secretary Mendoza appealed to the ministers of the different APEC economies to give assistance,' Transportation Department spokeswoman Elena Bautista told reporters on the sidelines of the ministers' two-day meeting.

'We are appealing for help for developing economies and their seafarers, particularly from the Philippines, who are manning their ships.' Slow-moving oil tankers, which carry mostly Filipino crews, should be given 'special protection' by navy forces already in Somalia, Bautista said.

She said APEC members acknowledged that the piracy problem needed to be addressed and that efforts against it be stepped up.

APEC, or the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum, which groups 21 economies across the region, held its annual meeting of transportation ministers in Manila Monday and Tuesday.

The Philippines used the occasion to 'reiterate (our call for) all naval forces that are now in the coalition to protect the Somali waters,' Bautista said.

Bautista said a Chinese navy frigate escorting the Philippine-flagged chemical tanker MV Stolt Strength, which was released by pirates last week, had recently repelled a second hijack attempt.

The vessel, with its 23-man Filipino crew, was freed last week after five months in captivity. However, it ran low on fuel and supplies shortly after departing and was stranded in waters east of Somalia.

The Chinese frigate Huangshan came to its aid, providing fuel, food, water and medicine until it reached a safe port of call in Yemen, she said.

'Pirates yesterday tried to reach Stolt Strength but the Chinese made a decisive action and deployed choppers that eventually drove the pirates away,' Bautista said. -- AFP