Marcos honors Filipino seafarers for skills, silent endurance

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday vowed to uphold the rights of Filipino seafarers and honored them for fulfilling their duties in global shipping while silently enduring distance from their families.

“In every machinery of global trade and every sea where a vessel sails, lies the quiet strength of a Filipino seafarer — proud, disciplined, and tireless. Their work is demanding. Their time away from home is long, and yet, they continue to serve with skill and silent endurance,” the President said in a message, read by Maritime Industry Authority administrator Sonia Malaluan during the celebration of the Day of the Seafarers 2025 at the Rizal Park Hotel, Manila.

Marcos also vowed to strengthen maritime education and improve deployment conditions, a reaffirmation of the government’s collective responsibility to invest in the long-term development of the country’s sailors.

“Let this day renew our commitment to policies that uphold their dignity, expand their opportunities, and ensure that their contributions are matched by meaningful support, both at sea and at home. As we navigate the waters towards a Bagong Pilipinas, the courage of our seafarers must be our compass. Let their discipline inspire a culture of excellence, and their resilience become the tide that moves every Filipino forward,” he said.

This year’s Day of the Seafarer, themed “My Harassment-Free Ship Campaign,” aims to shine a light on what can be done to foster a culture of zero tolerance, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez.

In a video message, Dominguez stressed that the IMO highlights seafarers who have successfully cultivated cultures of respect and accountability on board.

“We will also amplify the voices of those who have dealt with harassment, learning from their stories and ensuring they are heard. IMO is also doing its part. We have taken a decisive step to amend the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers Code (STCW), mandating training for all seafarers on preventing and addressing violence and harassment,” Dominguez said.

He said the IMO is also developing interactive platforms to connect seafarers with best practices and support networks from around the globe.

“No one should feel alone in their struggle. Join me in supporting the “My Harassment-Free Ship” campaign, fostering a culture of zero tolerance on ships where respect, safety and inclusivity are the standard, and where every individual working at sea can do so with dignity and security,” the IMO chief urged.

The Day of the Seafarer, which is recognized by the United Nations, was established in a resolution adopted by the 2010 Diplomatic Conference of IMO in Manila, to adopt the revised STCW Convention.

The Department of Migrant Workers, in 2024, said that there are approximately 504,057 Filipino seafarers deployed overseas, accounting for about 25 percent of the world’s estimated 1.6 million seafarers.