Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Sunday pushed for the immediate approval of Senate Bill No. 2369 or the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, saying there is no better time to enact it into law but now during an ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Dela Rosa noted that the deployment abroad of Filipino seafarers overseas is on a downward trend due to the pandemic, and passing the measure into law will guarantee their welfare and protection.

“There is no better time to enact the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers but now... sa pamamagitan ng panukalang batas na ito (through this proposed law), magkakaroon ng kongkretong proteksyon para sa mga Pilipinong seafarers na nasaan mang karagatan sa mundo (Our Filipino seafarers will be given concrete protection wherever they are in the world),” Dela Rosa said.

Under Section 41 of the bill, Filipino seafarers are given ample protection from epidemics, pandemics, and other public health emergencies as it ensures their entitlement to prompt medical care, as well as access to medical facilities onshore and medical advice on physical and mental health.

Section 50 of the measure also provides for the provision of quarantine and medical expenses before or during repatriation because of infection, epidemics, and pandemics.

The senator, a co-sponsor of the bill, said the imposition of lockdowns and border closures to international and domestic travel brought about by the COVID-19 disease has severely shrunk the number of employed Filipino seafarers abroad.

Citing data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Dela Rosa said the number of Filipino seafarers deployed overseas had plunged 54 percent in 2020, equivalent to 217,223, compared to 469,996 in 2019.

He said the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) also reported a 48 percent decline in the deployment of officers on international vessels corresponding to the 50,277 in 2020 and 97,400 in 2019.

The number of lower ranks had also dropped to 44 percent, or 93,618, from 166,401 in 2019, and the number of deployed staff in the non-maritime sector such as hotel staff for cruise ships and other passenger vessels had suffered a 64 percent fall with only 73,328 employed in 2020, compared to 206,195 before the pandemic started.

Dela Rosa said that while it’s hard to provide all the needs of the seafarers, passage into law of the measure would be a big step for Filipino seafarers “to realize their dream for their families.”

“We recognize the problems of our seafarers. Our office is ready to help them especially during this time,” Dela Rosa said.

For instance, he said he was able to help the 75 Filipino seafarers, including crew members sick with COVID-19, on board the M/V Horizon Pullmantor Crucerus docked at Port Al Rashid, Terminal 2, Dubai when they sought his assistance.

“Humingi sila ng tulong dahil sa kanilang nakapanlulumong sitwasyon at kulang na medikasyon habang nasa loob ng barko. Ang ilan sa mga ito ay natulungan nating ma-repatriate pabalik ng ating bansa (They asked for help when they got into a difficult situation and when they lacked medication when they were inside the vessel. We were able to help repatriate some of them),” he said.