Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo on Wednesday, Feb. 19, urged the government to enforce the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers in order to provide strong legal protection for Filipino seafarers amid reports of them being abandoned at sea.

Salo, one of the law's primary authors, called on the government to immediately repatriate the abandoned seafarers and give them financial support.
 

He also sought strict accountability and imposition of stronger penalties against erring shipowners and manning agencies.

Salo also called for government oversight as well as the provision of legal assistance to the seafarers.

"The Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers must be strictly enforced to prevent abandonment and protect our seafarers," Salo said.

His pronouncement came as a 2024 report by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) indicated a total of 3,133 seafarers were abandoned worldwide, with 273 of them Filipinos.

"We were the 4th most abandoned nationality in the same year, and have remained in the top five in the last five years. Shipowners and manning agencies must be held fully accountable, while the government must take urgent action to protect our seafarers' rights and welfare," he said.

"With the rights and welfare of migrant workers being of the primary advocacies of KABAYAN Party-list, we will continue working with Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE),  Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and other relevant agencies and organizations to ensure full implementation and accountability," he added.