The Maritime Industry Authority said Wednesday it has yet to receive complaints on the alleged employment of Chinese crew by dredging vessels in Manila Bay that may endanger the livelihood of Filipino maritime workers.
MARINA National Capital Region regional director Marc Anthony Pascua said no complaints were filed against the alleged operations of Chinese vessels in Manila Bay reclamation projects. He said MARINA would look into the matter once it received the official complaints.
The Samahan ng Nagkaka-isang Marinong Pilipino said in a letter dated Dec. 18 to Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma and Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople that majority of the crew members of foreign vessels operating in Manila Bay are not Filipinos. The letter was received by DOLE on Dec. 22.
SNMP asked the Philippine Coast Guard, MARINA and the Department of Labor and to inspect the foreign vessels that were being used in a reclamation project in Manila Bay.
Pascua confirmed the agency issued the required permits to the vessels of China Harbour Engineering Corp. operating in Manila Bay. “There are vessels of China Harbour issued with special permits or bareboat charter operating in Manila Bay,” he said. Pascua said, however, that employment of Chinese crew under a BBC arrangement is not allowed.
