Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday, May 23 welcomed the deletion of the controversial provision that would have mandated the payment of the execution bond as a victory for seafarers.

Such move, Hontiveros said, would benefit all seafarers, especially those whose finances are strained due to medical costs. 

“Salamat sa mga kasama ko sa bicameral conference committee at pinakinggan nila ang ating mga paliwanag laban sa hindi patas at unconstitutional na provision na ito (I’m thankful to my colleagues in the bicameral conference committee for listening to our explanation against this unfair and unconstitutional provision),” Hontiveros said. 

“Masalimuot man ang ating pinagdaanan, sa wakas, ang ating pakikibaka ay nagbunga ng panalo para sa ating mga seafarers (Even though what we went through was difficult, in the end, our struggle resulted in victory for our seafarers),” she said.

If the provision stayed, the senator said it would have required seafarers to pay a bond before monetary benefits arising from their disability are given to them. 

“Walang katwiran ang probisyong ito. Kaya nga hinihingi na agad ng isang seafarer ang mga benepisyong iyan dahil wala na siyang magastos pa. Lubog na nga sa medical expenses, lulunurin pa ng bond? Hindi naman ata tama ‘yan (There is no justification for this provision. That's why a seafarer immediately demands those benefits because he has nothing else to spend. Already drowning in medical expenses, will the bond drown? That's not right),” the lawmaker stressed.

With the bill finally moving forward, Hontiveros said she is confident that the Filipino seafarers will be given greater protection from abuses and violations of their rights and welfare. 

“Ang batas na ito ay para sa bawat seafarer na tinawag na bagong bayani dahil sa kanilang kontribusyon sa ating bansa at siyempre, sa kanilang pamilya (This law is for every seafarer who has been called a new hero because of their contribution to our country and of course, to their family),” she said.