Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas (PPAB)

Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas lauded the deletion of the execution bond--a provision she calls “anti-worker and unconstitutional”--in the second bicameral version of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers.

“The big thorn sticking out of the landmark Magna Carta of Seafarers has been finally struck out,” she said in a statement on Friday, May 24.

Brosas, one of the bill’s principal authors, said this marks a “huge win” for Filipino seafarers' groups who have been lobbying to keep this provision out of the bill’s final version.

“Under the previous bicam version of the measure, the contested amount for seafarers' money claims would be put under escrow until a final ruling is reached by the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court,” she explained.

This provision was deleted in the first bicam version submitted to President Marcos. However, the execution bond provision was retained.

Marcos was supposed to sign the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers last February, but the bill was later recalled to Congress because of some contentious provisions, such as the execution bond.

Under this provision, a seafarer would be required to put up a certain amount for the awarding of the monetary claims pending an appeal. 

Brosas says that this is a “grossly anti-labor provision” because it incorrectly presumes that seafarers have the economic capacity—similar to their employers—to put up a bond. 

With its removal from the second bicam version, the Makabayan bloc lawmaker is expecting that this will lead to a significant stride in ensuring justice and fair treatment for Filipino seafarers “who have been at the mercy of big shipping lines and agencies whenever mishaps at sea occur”.

“We must continue to protect the interests of our seafarers, who are the backbone of our maritime industry and one of the major contributors in foreign remittances,” she added.

Brosas is hoping that President Marcos will finally sign the landmark measure and avoid further delays in its enactment.

In the meantime, she said the government must consider implementing concrete measures that provide stable employment conditions, protection against unjust termination, and ensure long-term job security for maritime workers.

“In the future, we will push for the amendments to the law to include seafarers working in fishing vessels,” the congresswoman continued.