Marino party-list expected to take 2 seats in Congress: 'all three nominees of Marino are not seafarers'

Marino party-list expected to take 2 seats in Congress
GENIVI FACTAO May 15, 2019 https://www.manilatimes.net/marino-party-list-expected-to-take-2-seats-i...

The Marino party-list, an organization of Filipino seafarers, is expected to have two seats in Congress, thanks to the endorsement of President Duterte.

Ang Marino garnered 644,412 votes as of 2:50 p.m. on Tuesday, based on the partial and unofficial results representing 94.94 percent of the Nationwide Election Returns. (83,408 of 87,851 Election Returns) (45,588,744 of 63,662,481 Registered Voters). gathered from the Comelec Transparency Server.

Ang Marino was number seven in the party-list race, while its rival, Angkla party-list, led by Angkla Rep. Jesulito Manalo, was falling behind, garnering only 176,888 votes as of 2:50 p.m. on Tuesday.

According to Dennis Gorecho, head of the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices, all three nominees of Marino are not seafarers.

First nominee Carlo Lisandro Gonzalez, is the son of Carlos “Charlie” Gonzales, owner of Ulticon Builders Inc. (UBI) a general contractor.

The second nominee is Jose Antonio Lopez who previously worked with UBI, and now handles business development at Udenna owned by Davao businessman Dennis Uy.

Its third nominee is Carlo Pio Pacana, a former human resource business partner in Sumifru-Phil.

Gorecho said it was obvious that the votes of Angkla were dwindling. In 2013, Angkla party-list got 360,138 votes and was ranked 26th. In 2016, it garnered 337,245 votes, taking the 32nd spot. But this year, 2019, it gathered 176,873 votes and was ranked 53rd as of 2:50 p.m.
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He said the problem besetting the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers affected Angkla’s candidacy. The seafarers’ comment was, the process become more difficult when the functions of Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) was transferred to the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina). The seafarers’ support was then shifted to Marino Partylist.

“Angkla has gained only one third of the votes it had from the previous election. Marino party-list on the other hand, jumped from 79th place with 102,430 votes in 2016 to 7th spot this 2019 election. It benefited from the advertisement and endorsement by the President. The challenge now is how to keep their words, and make the 644,412 votes worth it, despite the fact that the nominees were not known in the industry,” he said.

He said, the candidacy of Marino party-list was also supported by well -known businesses in Davao. Angkla on the other hand, was backed by business sector from manning agencies, shipyard operators, among others.

“It showed the strength of President Duterte’s endorsement,” commented Angkla supporter Engr. Thaddeus Jovellanos, Vice president of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Inc. (Soname).

Marino party list agenda was to provide leadership to Filipino seafarers in order to contribute in the development of the Philippine Maritime industry.

“We will support and sustain the development program and accomplishment of President Duterte towards a modern and vibrant maritime industry and a globally competitive Filipino seafarer for a more progressive, developed and secure Philippines,” Marino said.

Marino vowed to formulate and implement a comprehensive National Maritime Development Policy towards a cohesive detailed program for an integrated globally competitive maritime industry, by focusing on maritime human resource development, domestic shipping, shipbuilding and ship repair, and overseas shipping.
It would also ensure adequate budget allocation for education, health services, job creation and livelihood promotion.

Meanwhile, Angkla’s unfinished tasks include the passage of four maritime bills into laws. These were House Bill (HB) 460 that will establish a single classification society to improve maritime safety; HB 6519, “The OFW Sovereign Fund;” HB 1029, an act establishing the scope and procedure for Philippine Ship Registry, and adherence to international protocols or the HB 456.