Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo (Facebook)

Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo is determined to further enhance the protection of seafarers by institutionalizing messures against what's termed in the industry as "ambulance chasing". 

"The passage of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers is a landmark legislation that will ensure protection and welfare of the Filipino seafarers. However, a measure to prevent the practice of ambulance chasing needs to be strengthened," Salo said in a statement Saturday night, June 8. 

The veteran lawmaker filesd for this purpose House Bill (HB) No.10495, "An Act Further Enhancing the Protection of Seafarers Against Ambulance Chasing, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 10706, Other Known as the "Seafarers Protection Act". 

The bill seeks to amend the 2015 law by including a new section on Execution of Judgment and Monetary Awards. 

In the mentioned section, the bill calls on involved government agencies such as Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to promulgate the necessary rules and procedures ensuring fair and speedy granting of monetary awards for the salaries and wages, death and disability claims, and other statutory benefits of the seafarers, and preventing ambulance chasing for the timely and full restitutuon of these monetary awards. 

Moreover, the bill necessitates the posting of a sufficient bond to ensure the full restitution of monetary awards on any disputed amount initially determined to be legally due to the seafarer and damages, including moral damages, exemplary damages, nominal damages, attorney's fees, and other similar awards, but are ultimately reversed on appeal. 

Salo is convinced of the merit of this pro-seafarer measure as it seeks to prevent the predatory practice of ambulance chasing and considers the welfare of both the seafarers and shipowners, as well as manning agencies. 

Not only has ambulance chasing been a financial burden to the shipowners, it has also been financially detrimental to the sefarers who experience a drop in employment opportunities and being required to return the money awarded to them in cases of appeal reversal. 

"When we address the concerns that affect the attractiveness of Filipino seafarers to foreign shipowners, more shipowners will be encouraged to engage more Filipino seafarers. Providing measures to disincentivize ambulance chasing will not only protect our seafarers from the exploitative acts of certain individuals but also ensure their attractability in the job market," added Salo. 

The former House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs chairman filed the bill in support of President Marcos’ aspiration to develop and upscale the maritime sector in the country. 

The bill does lso by curtailing nefarious acts of ambulance-chasing, which will provide peace of mind to the seafarers, as well as the principal shipowners and manning agencies. 

Salo’s bill is also a response to the reverberating calls from shipowners and union of seafarers to provide a long-term resolution on ambulance-chasing, which has produced an estimated $52.6 million worth of unrestituted damages due to shipowners. 

"With Philippines being one of the world's leading supplier of seafarers, we must extend the utmost protection we can give to ensure that our seafarers receive the rights and benefits they deserve. This will benefit the whole maritime sector, including manning agencies and shipowners," he stated.