WESTERN Visayas is a major supplier of competent and able seafarers. We have lots of maritime schools that produce seafarers. It is estimated that there is one Filipino seafarer for every four to five complements on board a vessel at any time.
Generally, however, the Filipino seafarers’ welfare has been given inadequate attention. We don’t even have a magna carta for seafarers that would guarantee their right to humane working conditions and just compensation through ensuring that manning and crewing agencies provide adequate information about onboard conditions as well as local and international laws that apply to Filipino seafarers.
Various policies to protect the welfare of our seafarers are scattered in numerous existing laws. This indicates a need for a more comprehensive legislation that will cover all these provisions, while at the same time complying with international maritime standards.
It also helps to have a centralized government agency that will provide the necessary services, supervision, regulation and guidance which our Filipino seafarers need.
Filipino maritime workers are important human resources. We have to understand that the seafaring profession has unique demands and conditions, thus, we must guarantee that they are given equal attention and protection.
Despite incidents of abduction, unjust compensation and on-board accidents, no legislation has been passed to protect and uphold their rights. Most of the policies and programs catering to the needs of migrant workers are designed for land-based workers only.
Due to the sheer number of Filipino seafarers that help keep our economy afloat with their dollar remittances, it is but proper that we institutionalize mechanisms that provide better protection of their rights and welfare.
