Congress ratifies bill on maritime industry reforms

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate and the House of Representatives ratified on Tuesday night a bill that seeks to institute reforms in the country’s maritime industry to avert the possible ban or firing of some 100,000 Filipino seafarers by European shipping companies.

The measure is entitled “An Act Establishing the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) as the single maritime administration responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, and International Agreements or Covenants Related Thereto” is now set for transmittal to President Aquino.

“It is significant that it is the first major bill that we have passed in this session,” Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said.

“As a country the Philippines provides the most number of seafarers in the whole world and their future is endangered because there are changes necessary in their training, accreditation and skills here,” he said.

“This bill, if properly implemented, will address those concerns. That is why it is a real contribution to the future of hundreds of thousands of Filipinos who also contribute to our country,” he added.

Angkla party-list Rep. Jesulito Manalo, principal author of the measure, said the legislation will institutionalize Executive Order 75 that will now provide standards of training, competency and watchkeeping of all Filipino seafarers, “conforming with the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) requirement in the convention of 1978, thus elevating the level of our seafarers with the rest of the world in the global maritime industry.”

Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona, who chaired the technical working group and co-author of the bill, said its passage went swiftly.

He said the measure will eventually “make our seafarers the seafarers of choice and recognized as global maritime professionals.”

Manalo said when a vessel enters Europe without a certificate of proficiency or competency, the crew on board is considered not authorized.

“So (in effect) you are sailing a ship that is manned by people who are not qualified. Ultimately, if that happens, we tend to lose $4.8 billion income,” Madrona said.

Manalo said 90 percent of world trade of $18.5 trillion is in shipping, run by 1.4 million seafarers, of whom 30 percent are Filipinos.

“So we are actually a major player in the maritime industry,” he said.