The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) is optimistic that seafarers and other maritime professionals would also get prioritized in the government's ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination program.
MARINA Administrator Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) already asked the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to also give priority to the seafarers "being an essential worker to the government." "This was already presented to the technical working group and it was favorably approved. According to Tuazon Jr., they don't see any reason that it will not be approved by the IATF," Empedrad said.
"I am very confident that this will be approved," he added.
According to Empedrad, there will be protocols to be disseminated once the vaccines for seafarers have been rolled out.
Meanwhile, Empedrad emphasized that MARINA continues to implement efforts to support and protect the welfare of Filipino seafarers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
This includes the digitalization of processes for application requirements of Filipino mariners in a bid to curb the spread of the virus through limited physical contact.
"For future plans, we have the implementation of e-certificates for seafarers. This has been discussed at the IMO level. Instead na pupunta para pumirma at makuha yung certificate (Instead of signing in-person to get the certificate), we can now implement the signing of licenses through e-certificates," the MARINA chief added.
The transportation department has been recognizing the contribution of Filipino seafarers to the country's maritime industry amid the current health crisis.
The DOTr said that many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are sea-based and are either working for shipping companies or the cruise industry. They are among the primary sources of remittances in the country.
The Philippines has been providing the international shipping industry with mariners for decades." Out of the estimated 1.5 million seafarers worldwide, over 370,000 or 25 percent are Filipinos," the DOTr added.