Passage of the proposed Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers has become timely and relevant in light of the near banning of Filipino seamen by European Union-flagged vessels, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said on Friday.
Estrada said the measure will ensure the clear and coordinated fulfillment of mandates of the concerned government agencies.
This will also improve the services given by the government to Filipino seafarers and facilitate the proper implementation of the proposed law, Estrada said.
Estrada, chairman of of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resource Development suggested that the passage of the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers was long overdue. Macon Ramos-Araneta
Once enacted, it will be another landmark legislation that will benefit our kababayans – the seafarers and their families – and our economy as a whole, Estrada said.
He was the first to file a bill way back in 2013 to avert the crisis – the non-hiring of new Filipino seafarers in EU member-states and the displacement of around 50,000 currently deployed in the region,
This was due to the country’s repeated failure to pass the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) evaluation since 2006.
Early last year, the EU flagged the Philippines for deficiencies in local seafarers’ training and education. It urged the government to improve its efforts to comply with the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers Convention (STCW). They threatened to withdraw the recognition of Filipino seafarers’ qualifications in EU flag-carrying vessels if the issues they raised years ago remain unresolved.
This year, the EU Commission announced its decision to continue recognizing the safety certifications issued by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) after noting the efforts of the Philippines in complying with the requirements, particularly in key areas such as monitoring, supervision, and evaluation of training and assessment.
It emphasized the Philippines is one of the world’s largest maritime labor supply countries.
One of the salient features of the bill is the creation of the One-Stop-Shop Centers for Seafarers (OSSCS) that will be established in major crew-change ports for the convenient and speedy processing of their documentary requirements.
“This will allow them to spend more time with their families and friends during their vacation from work, and find respite in their care, comfort, and company, before returning to work.
