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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Hontiveros: Gov't action to avert EU ban on PH seafarers already long overdue

Hontiveros: Gov't action to avert EU ban on PH seafarers already long overdue

Published Nov 4, 2022 01:45 pm

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday, November 4 said the government’s attempt to ensure that the country’s training program and accreditation system for Filipino seafarers to avert a possible European Union (EU) ban is already long overdue.

At the same time, Hontiveros scored the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) over its failure to address concerns on the European Maritime Safety Agency’s (EMSA) evaluation over the past years and putting to risk the jobs of thousands of seafarers in the process.

“The move is long overdue. Hindi dapat nagsasakripisyo ang mga kababayan nating manggagawa dahil sa kapabayaan ng MARINA (Our fellow workers should not be making sacrifices because of the negligence of the MARINA),” Hontiveros said in a statement.

“Matagal nang issue ang reformation sa training and development ng ating mga marino, and yet no action has been taken so far (Reformation in the training and development of our sailors has been an issue for a long time, and yet no action has been taken so far),” she noted.

“This is a recurring problem that needs our urgent response. I applaud the initial action of the President and we expect immediate solutions from the newly formed tasked force,” the senator stressed.

Hontiveros said she is keen on filing a resolution calling for a Senate inquiry on the matter to ensure better protection of Filipino seafarers, and to avoid such unnecessary consequences in the future.

“Importante na makonsulta mismo ang mga seafarers natin at makasama sila sa lahat ng mga repormang gagawin, dahil sa huli, sila talaga ang apektado, kasama ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay (It is important to consult our seafarers themselves and to be with them in all the reforms that will be made, because in the end, they are the ones who are really affected, along with their loved ones),” the lawmaker said.

On Thursday, November 3, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered a collective effort among several government agencies to ensure the the country’s training programs for seafarers will finally pass the standards of the EU.

Around 50,000 Filipino seafarers working in European vessels stand to lose their jobs due to the country’s repeated failure to pass the EMSA over the last 16 years.

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople said the President has tasked the DMW, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to come up with an implementation plan so the government can address the deficiencies that are raised in the EMSA audit reports.

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