By: Macon Ramos-Araneta
With 14 affirmative votes, no abstention and no negative vote, the Senate approved on third and final reading the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers bill.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo, principal sponsor and one of the authors of Senate Bill (SB) number 2221, said the approval was just in time for National Maritime Week.
He thanked everyone who supported the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers bill that will institutionalize the rights that will protect seafarers.
“I would like to thank my colleagues for their support for this measure, especially Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri who has been supportive of this bill from Day 1,” he said.
“I am equally thankful to the seafarers and their union, including the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines. This bill is an early Christmas gift to all seafarers,” he added.
Tulfo also reiterated his thanks to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for certifying the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers as “urgent.”
Under SB No. 2221, “the State shall endeavor to secure decent working and living conditions for seafarers, standardize the terms and conditions of their employment, regulate operations of manning agencies and incentivize maritime stakeholders, establish and enhance mechanisms for administrative, adjudicative, and social and welfare services for the seafarers and their families.”
Tulfo, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, earlier divulged supposed moves by several groups to strongly block the passage of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers bill at the Senate in previous Congress.
In the 18th Congress, it can be noted that the said bill was left pending for Second Reading at the Senate despite overwhelming support from several senators while its counterpart measure already hurdled third reading at the House of Representatives.
For the 19th Congress, aside from Tulfo, 14 Senators filed their versions of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers including Senate President Migz Zubiri, Majority Floor Leader Senator Joel Villanueva, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Robinhood Padilla, Cynthia Villar, Risa Hontiveros, Sonny Angara, Grace Poe, Win Gatchalian, Bong Revilla, Bong Go, Bato dela Rosa, and Mark Villar.
Meanwhile, Sen. Grace Poe recently vowed to continue pushing for policies and programs for the welfare of workers in the maritime industry following the approval of the Magna Carta for Seafarers.
“It has been 10 years since we first filed the Pilipino Marino bill to protect the interests and welfare of Filipino seafarers,” said Poe.
“The long overdue Magna Carta is no longer a dream,” added Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on Public Services.
“Our seafarers can now be assured of a safer and modern maritime industry where they are valued and protected and capacitated to perform their duties,” she added.
Poe said relevant government agencies should remain vigilant to ensure that the seafarers reap the benefits of the Magna Carta once signed into law.
Now a step closer to becoming law, Poe said the Magna Carta augurs well for the welfare of nearly half a million seafarers from the Philippines working in passenger and cargo ships around the world.
In 2022, their remittances accounted for $6.71 billion or 1.66 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
“Our Pinoy seafarers can soon be assured of smooth sailing days as they sail in foreign waters for their families,” Poe added.
