CRC study: Filipino seafarers generate P1.06 trillion in economic impact

CRC study: Filipino seafarers generate P1.06 trillion in economic impact
Yashika F. Torib November 26, 2025 https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/11/26/business/maritime/crc-study-filip...

FILIPINO seafarers and the local manning industry has generated a total of P1.06 trillion in economic impact, emphasizing its vital role in steering the national economy.

A groundbreaking study, the first of its kind, conducted by leading economic think tank Center for Research and Communication (CRC) of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) revealed that the Philippine’s manning industry is one of the single largest sources of economic activity.

The study, titled “The Overseas Seafarers’ Industry Profile, Structure, and Impact on the Philippine Economy,” showed that Filipino seafarers contribute about 4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), supporting nearly 400,000 jobs nationwide and providing P150.1 billion in household income.

A total of P277.4 billion of direct remittances from Filipino seafarers were recorded in 2024.

It also revealed that every P1.00 sent home by a Filipino seafarer nearly becomes P3.00 in the Philippine economy.

Dr. Winston Padojinog, president of the Center for Research and Communication, said that these remittances go through different sectors.

This includes housing, transportation, education, food, and local services.

In 2024, the industry generated P150.1 billion in household income and supported 398,839 Filipino jobs, equivalent to 0.8 percent of national employment.

Employers attribute feat to shipowners

The Association of Licensed Manning Agencies (ALMA Maritime Group) has attributed this economic feat to the continuous preference of foreign shipowners to Filipino seafarers.

The group affirmed that families and entire communities benefit when foreign shipowners hire Filipinos and spend money in the country prior to the latter’s deployment.

Shipowner spending before deployment includes seafarer training, medical services, hotels, and government fees.

The study commissioned by ALMA revealed, however, that regulatory uncertainty, uneven enforcement, and legal ambiguity threaten the massive economic contribution of the manning industry and the jobs of Filipino seafarers.

The group established that this can be achieved through five urgent reforms: creating a "Blue Check” Manning Agency Program or a government-accredited certification for compliant and ethical manning agencies; Tiered Penalty and Enforcement Matrix that institutes predictable rules to encourage fairness and investment; Modernized Tax Administration through no-contact audits, clear timelines, published rules, online LOA tracking, and an independent dispute review panel; Overhauled Voluntary Arbitration at NCMB to provide stronger evidence standards, due process, and presidentially appointed arbitrators; and Defending Magna Carta Reforms to strengthen EMSA compliance and anti-ambulance chasing provisions.

ALMA emphasized that building shipowners’ confidence will protect the jobs of hundreds of thousands of Filipino seafarers, especially when other seafaring nations are competing with theirs.

“If our country’s advantage is affected by policies, we will lose our shipowners’ confidence,” Atty. Iris Baguilat, chairman of ALMA, said.

“Protecting the Philippine manning industry means protecting jobs, remittances, household spending, and a trillion-peso contribution to the economy. These reforms secure international confidence, ensure fairness, strengthen compliance, and sustain the Philippines’ status as a global seafaring leader,” Padojinog said.

ALMA determined that keeping the shipowners’ interest in hiring Filipino seafarers is tantamount to protecting the Philippine economy.