President Marcos is set to sign three important laws on Monday, Feb. 26, that would benefit Filipino seafarers, senior citizens, and locally made products.

In a letter from the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) to the House of Representatives, Marcos is set to sign the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers in a ceremonial signing in Malacañan on Monday.

President Marcos certified this measure as urgent in September last year as this aims to ensure that Filipino seafarers will continue to have an edge over their foreign counterparts through training and accreditations.

It covers Filipino seafarers “who are employed or engaged or work in any capacity onboard foreign-registered ships and Philippine-registered ships operating internationally.”

The measure seeks to address the lack of domestic laws vis-a-vis the country’s compliance with international maritime standards and the seafarers’ rights and welfare.

“This is to address recurring deficiencies in the domestic laws pertaining to the training and accreditation of thousands of Filipino seafarers, which endanger their employment in the European market in particular, and the global maritime arena, in general,” the Presidential Communications Office said.

More senior benefits

President Marcos is also slated to sign the measure granting benefits to Filipino octogenarians and nonagenarians.

Under this measure, Filipinos reaching the ages of 80, 85, 90, and 95 will receive an incentive from the government worth P10,000.

Meanwhile, those reaching the age of 100 shall still receive P100,000.

In a statement, Senator Imee Marcos said this measure was important amid the rising cost of living and healthcare expenses for senior citizens.

“It is hoped that more of our elderly population may be able to benefit from the Centenarians Act and that they may be inspired to further prolong and enjoy their lives even beyond a century,” she said.

Under this measure, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in coordination with the departments of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Information and Communications Technology (ICT), and the local government units, shall establish a data management system recording relevant information of individuals covered.

Tatak Pinoy Act

Marcos will also sign the Tatak Pinoy or Proudly Filipino Act on Monday. This measure seeks to bring to the fore Filipino-made products and services.

In a statement, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said the Tatak Pinoy Act is a crucial step toward transforming the economy by encouraging collaboration with the private sector and enhancing the competitiveness of local enterprises.

The measure outlines a comprehensive strategy, setting the stage for formulating, financing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the Tatak Pinoy Strategy (TPS).

It encourages the production of diverse, sophisticated, and high-quality Philippine-made products by local enterprises that can compete globally.