Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo couldn't help but thank President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. following the passage of his pet measure, the proposed Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, on third and final reading in the House of Representatives.
Embodied in House Bill (HB) No.7325, the measure received 304 "yes" votes during nominal voting Monday night at the House plenary. This was more than enough for the bill to achieve the chamber's final nod.
“I am thankful for the support of my co-champions in Congress, and certainly to the leadership of House Speaker Martin Romualdez for recognizing the importance of this measure and paving the way for its passage,” Salo said.
“I would also like to thank the President for including the magna carta as one of the priority measures of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC),” Salo said.
“I am confident that the Senate will also pass the same measure soon,” he added.
The measure's inclusion in the LEDAC led to its prioritization in the legislative mill of the lower chamber, which is led by Marcos' cousin, Leyte 1st district Rep. Romualdez.
“In all this, I thank our stakeholders for actively participating in the deliberations on the bill, the passage of which on third reading is a victory not only for the champions of the magna carta, but for everyone in the maritime industry and in the country,” the Kabayan solon said.
“At the core of this proposed landmark legislation is the protection of the rights and the promotion of the welfare of our Filipino seafarers. By codifying relevant seafarers’ rights and duties, the proposed law shall seek to ensure better working conditions, meaningful qualifications, and other measures that will improve their situation at work,” Salo explained.
On the other hand, the proposed law shall address the maritime higher educational institutions’ (MHEI) lack of training ships as well as the difficulties faced by cadets in completing their shipboard training.
It shall require registered ship owners to accept cadets, and MHEIs to enter into agreements with ship owners or manning agencies for the cadets’ shipboard training.