Sen. Raffy Tulfo expressed gratitude to President Marcos after he certified as urgent Senate Bill No. 2221, otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers.
Tulfo, the principal sponsor of SB No. 2221, is also grateful for the support of his colleagues and seafarers’ unions for the said measure, particularly during the bill’s first phase of the period of amendments yesterday, Sept. 25.
“I am very happy that we have passed the first phase of the period of amendments for the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers bill yesterday which coincides with the celebration of the National Maritime Week
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa ipinakitang suporta ni Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri at mga kasamahan ko sa Senado para sa panukalang batas na ito (I thank the support of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri as well as my colleagues in the Senate for this proposed bill),” he said.
“Masaya din ako sa suportang ipinakita ng mga stakeholder at unyon ng mga marino, kabilang na ang Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) at AMOR Seaman (I'm also happy (I'm also happy for the support of the marine stakeholders and unions, including the AMOSUP and AMOR Seaman)," he added.
In a letter to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri dated Sept. 25., Marcos said he is seeking the immediate enactment of the bill to address “recurring deficiencies in our domestic laws pertaining to the training and accreditation of thousands of Filipino seafarers.”
Tulfo said he is now more confident that the bill will soon be passed into law.
“Matapos ang unang stage ng period of amendment at ang suportang ito mula mismo kay Pangulong BBM, mas tiwala ako na mapapabilis ang pagsasabatas ng Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers bill (After the first stage of the period of amendment and the support from the President himself, I am more confident that the passing of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers bill will be expedited),” said Tulfo.
Aside from Tulfo, other senators who filed their versions of Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers this 19th Congress include Sens. Zubiri, Joel Villanueva, Risa Hontiveros, Bato dela Rosa, Jinggoy Estrada, Robinhood Padilla, Cynthia Villar , Sonny Angara, Grace Poe, Win Gatchalian, Bong Revilla, Bong Go, Mark Villar, and Loren Legarda.