Senate OKs Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers

The Senate on Wednesday night approved on third and final reading "An Act Providing for the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers."

Senate Bill 2221, which was the first measure sponsored by neophyte Senator Raffy Tulfo, gained 14 affirmative votes, zero negative, and zero abstentions, following a thorough period of amendments during the plenary session.

The proposed measure was certified as urgent by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with an aim to address "recurring deficiencies in the domestic laws pertaining to the training and accreditation of thousands of Filipino seafarers, which endanger their employment in the European market in particular, and the global maritime arena, in general."

Marcos sees the measure will ensure that Filipino seafarers could have a continued edge over their foreign counterparts through training and accreditations.

SB 2221 aims to address the lack of domestic laws vis-à-vis the country's compliance with international maritime standards, as well as the seafarers' rights and welfare.

President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda lauded the passage of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers as she recalled "the same nostalgic feeling" when the Senate Resolution 829 or the Maritime Labor Convention was ratified in 2006.

"I believe it was a unanimous concurrence and we know that this Maritime Labor Convention formed part of the backbone of the Magna Carta of Seafarers. That's how long it takes to be able to enact enabling legislation of conventions and treaties that we enter into," she said.

Senator Joel Villanueva congratulated Tulfo for "taking the cudgels and sponsoring this very important landmark legislation."

Before the plenary session adjourned, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri reported the upper chamber was able to pass eight priority measures and several national measures in the last 28 session days.