PBBM inks into law Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers

Transcript

00:00For quite a while now, Filipino seafarers were at the top of their game,

00:04the international gold standard for the best merchant marines the world over.

00:08Then the sector lagged in contemporizing their skills.

00:12Today's landmark legislation, inked by the president,

00:15will afford the country seafarers fair pay, proper incentives,

00:19and continued upskilling of their craft that will keep them up to speed

00:23with global standards, as our Alan Francisco reports.

00:30President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers

00:34this morning at Malacanang. The purpose of this law is to protect the rights

00:39and welfare of both domestic and overseas Filipino seafarers.

00:42It is our way of telling our seafarers, we see you, we hear you, and we are here to support you.

00:50President Marcos acknowledged the contributions not only to the country's economy but also in

00:55being a bridge that connects the Philippines to the rest of the world.

00:58The president stated that Filipino seafarers endure being temporarily separated from their

01:04families. They also face dangers at work, such as the incident in the Red Sea,

01:09where a ship carrying Filipino seafarers was attacked.

01:12It is a tribute to their sacrifices, not only a tribute to their sacrifices,

01:17but a call to weave together a future that they can be proud of.

01:23One, where their voices are heard, their rights are upheld,

01:27their families feel the support of a nation that understands the weight of their duty.

01:33With the passage of this law, President Marcos expressed his gratitude to the lawmakers

01:38who pushed for it, as well as the stakeholders involved.

01:42Our different perspectives helped us produce this Magna Carta that encompasses our shared goal,

01:48to make Filipino seafarers, the industry, and the country prosper both in domestic and

01:54international waters. At its core, this new law aims to uphold the fundamental rights of

02:00our overseas seafarers, their rights to fair wages, safe working conditions,

02:06and skills and competency development, amongst others.

02:10The government also plans to establish a mechanism to ensure that seafarers are properly valued

02:16and fairly compensated, commensurate to their efficiency and expertise.

02:20Senators, meanwhile, lauded President Marcos' signing of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers

02:25into law.

02:42Senator Bongo and Senator Amy Marcos showed their appreciation through their Facebook pages,

02:47saying this landmark legislative enactment is a victory for Filipino seafarers.

02:52Senator Grace Poe said it sends a clear message to shipping companies and operators here and abroad

02:59to treat our seafarers fairly and ensure their safety and uphold welfare standards at all times.

03:05For Cabayan Partylist Representative Ron Salo, a key proponent of the bill and a champion of the

03:11rights of seafarers, has hailed this moment as a transformative step towards ensuring the rights

03:16and welfare of Filipino seafarers are protected and upheld.

03:20He emphasized the signing of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers is not just a win for

03:25our maritime workforce but a victory for the entire maritime industry.

03:30Alan Francisco, from the National TV Network, for a new and better Philippines.