Robredo: Invest in seafarers’ training, education

Robredo: Invest in seafarers’ training, education
Janvic Mateo - March 27, 2022 https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/03/27/2170156/robredo-invest-sea...

(excerpts)

MANILA, Philippines — Investing in education and training of Filipino seafarers will enable them to access more opportunities, including better pay and higher positions, according to presidential candidate and Vice President Leni Robredo.

During an interview with Go Negosyo’s “KandidaTalks” aired last Friday, Robredo noted that while Filipinos comprise a large number of seafarers around the world, only a small percentage are crew officials.

“Many of the able-bodied seamen, on the average, get a salary of around $1000. But if you are an official, it is between $6,000 and $15,000,” she said in Filipino.

“If right now, when only a small percentage (of Filipino seafarers) are officials, they already contribute six percent to the GDP (gross domestic product), imagine if we invest in our people, if we invest in the education and training of seafarers,” she added.

Not only will it help their families, but it will also contribute to the overall economy of the country, according to the Vice President.

A clip from last week’s presidential debates recently circulated and made it appear that Robredo was underestimating Filipino seafarers when she cited the lack of skills and opportunities in the maritime sector.

Her response, however, was in the context of the need to provide further training and address issues in the maritime education sector in the country.

The Department of Foreign Affairs had earlier urged the Maritime Industry Authority to address the deficiencies in the country’s seafarers’ education program following the assessment conducted by the European Maritime Safety Agency.

Thousands of Filipino seafarers may be prohibited from working on European Union-flagged vessels if the country fails to address the deficiencies in the country’s implementation of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers convention.

During the “KandidaTalks” interview, Robredo also stressed the need for a Philippine registry of seafarers and proposed having flag carrying cargo vessels.

--'negative picture' ba ang sinabi ni VP Leni?--

Marino Party-List, read this--https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1140284/Filipino-s...

Marino party-list slams Robredo for ‘disparaging’ comment about Filipino seafarers
March 25, 2022 https://politics.com.ph/marino-party-list-slams-robredo-for-disparaging-...

The Marino party-list group has issued a statement disputing the negative picture that Vice President Leni Robredo reportedly painted on the skills and ability of Filipino seafarers.

“We urge Vice President Robredo to be more circumspect in her statement as these carry an influential weight,” the party-list group said in a statement.

Marino said Robredo cited the European Union’s audit report on the number of deficiencies concerning the Filipino seafarers’ education, which fails to guarantee the requirements of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention.

The group said Robredo also underscored the countless opportunities for Filipino seafarers that they cannot take advantage of ostensibly because of their “lack of skills”.

Despite Robredo’s “disparaging statement,” Marino said “the fact stands that the Philippines remains the world’s largest supplier of seafarers and officers,” based on the report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The group also noted that Filipino seafarers contributed $6.4 billion to the Philippine economy in 2020.

“Our seafarers are highly sought by international shipping companies due to their positive work ethic, high competence, and strong facility with the English language. These facts belie the negative picture painted by the Vice President,” the group said.

The party-list group vowed to remain persistent in its efforts to improve the skills and competencies of Filipino seafarers and further advance the maritime industry through legislation.