Marcos renews call to reskill Pinoy seafarers

MANILA, Philippines — With the demand for Filipino seafarers expected to increase by 2050, President Marcos reiterated yesterday his directive to the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to work closely with the shipping industry on the upskilling and reskilling of seafarers.

In his speech at the Seafarer 2050 Conference at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City, Marcos underscored the importance of investing in a highly qualified and well-trained workforce for the shipping sector.

“We can do this by identifying the skills required for the new generation of ships, discussing education and training requirements, as well as committing to a fair and just transition to build a future-ready and resilient shipping industry,” the President said.

“I enjoin all national government agencies, (multilateral) organizers and private stakeholders to work together in identifying strategies to ensure the availability of skilled workers to fulfill the requirements of the shipping industry. This is expected to significantly increase by the year 2050,” he added.

Marcos noted that the entire transportation industry, including shipping, is undergoing a huge transformation marked by the coming of new and sustainable fuels as well as the increasing deployment of digitalization and automation.

As part of the government’s upskilling and reskilling program, the President called on Marina and CHED to prepare Filipino seafarers for the shift of ocean-going vessels from conventional fuel sources to green ammonia between 2030 and 2040.

“It is vital that we now embark on a long-term, tangible and sustainable effort that will address the demands of the maritime sector in the years to come,” he said.

Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople, who also attended yesterday’s summit, said the demand for Filipino seafarers is expected to hit its pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year.

Ople noted that seafarer deployment plunged to 270,000 in 2020 from more than 505,000 in 2019.

In 2022, seafarer deployment increased to nearly 490,000, she said.

“In the first three months of 2023, the deployment reached around 149,000. By the end of the year, we will be back to pre-pandemic levels,” Ople told reporters.

As part of the “Day of Seafarers” observance, the Department of Migrant Workers announced that for the first time, it will hold a job fair exclusively for Filipino seafarers tomorrow, June28.

According to the DMW, about 27 manning agencies are set to participate in the job fair and offer an estimated 1,500 vacancies. Interested applicants may proceed to the DMW offices in Mandaluyong City.

Meanwhile, the Marina yesterday announced the online search for this year’s “Exceptional Bravery at Sea Awardees.”

Nominees may be endorsed by licensed manning agencies, shipping companies, inter-governmental organizations, non-governmental maritime organizations or other legitimate endorsees.

The nominations should be submitted by Aug. 11. — Evelyn Macairan, Mayen Jaymalin