Senator Raffy Tulfo convened a consultative meeting at the Senate with various stakeholders to clarify provisions of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, amid circulating misinformation about the newly signed law.

Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, met with seafarers’ unions, manning agencies, seafarers’ families, and other concerned groups to address concerns—including claims that seafarers’ salaries have been reduced as a result of the Magna Carta.

Tulfo clarified that the confusion may stem from the new 80 percent mandatory allotment provision. Previously, this allotment was calculated only from a seafarer’s monthly basic salary. However, under the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the law, the fixed or guaranteed overtime pay is now also included in computing the 80 percent allotment.

"Wala sa probisyon ng Magna Carta na nagsasabing bababa ang suweldo ng kahit na sinong seafarer (There is no provision in the Magna Carta that says the salary of any seafarer will be reduced)," he said.

Atty. Henry Zamora of the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) clarified that the IRR permits seafarers to designate multiple allottees. This allows them to allocate 80 percent of their basic salary to their families and 80% of their guaranteed overtime pay to a “self-allotment,” which can serve as personal savings.

Arianne Rocha, president of the Seafarers Family group, expressed concern that many seafarers are unaware of these details. “Some are being misled to believe the government is taking part of their salary,” Rocha said, adding that certain parties may be spreading false information for personal gain.

Meanwhile, seafarers’ wives Grace Gelvoleo and Myrna Durian, both members of Women Championing Seafarer Families (WCSF), expressed support for the law. Durian, however, noted that complaints often come from seafarers with “second families or other women.”

Tulfo also raised the issue of exchange rate manipulation, citing reports that some agencies were shortchanging seafarers by altering the dollar-to-peso conversion.

Capt. Antonio Ladera III, President of the Association of Licensed Manning Agencies (ALMA), clarified that the law requires the exchange rate used to match the remittance date and be reflected in payslips.

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac added that any unauthorized deduction by agencies constitutes an “unlawful deduction” and could lead to penalties, including suspension of operations or permit revocation.

To address the ongoing confusion, Tulfo directed all manning agencies to launch an aggressive information and education campaign in coordination with the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).