TACLOBAN CITY – Filipino seafarers training at the National Maritime Polytechnic in Tacloban City are celebrating the release of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers. The newly enacted law has been lauded as a significant milestone, ensuring the rights, safety, and welfare of maritime workers both locally and internationally.
The seafarers, many of whom have been braving the international seas for many years, are one in saying, the passage of this piece of legislation has been long awaited.
Miguelito Miranda, a first assistant engineer of a ship plying international waters said they are happy that Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers is finally ready for full implementation.
“Napakalaking tulong po ito sa amin na mga seafarers as the law aims to create more secure and supportive environment for seafarers at maprotektahan lahat ng karapatan naming mga seafarers,” Miranda said.
Another seafarer, John Jaydee Trono, a motorman whose been on the seas for eight years, admits there has also been discrimination onboard ships between seafarers of different nationality.
Under this newly-enacted law, seafarers shall have the right to be protected from discrimination on the basis of race, sex, gender, religion, political opinion or place of birth.
National Maritime Polytechnic Executive Director Victor Del Rosario welcomes the full implementation of the law saying this is one landmark legislation of President Ferdinand R. Marcos’s administration that will ensure greater protection for Filipino seafarers in all fronts.
Del Rosario also said the law affords the NMP a much-needed support in their role as a government-run maritime training institute to expand its training facilities to other areas in the country and improve its training courses to continually produce globally competitive seafarers in the country.
RA 12021 or the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers provides for the seafarers’ rights and duties, protection of women in the maritime industry, emergency rescue of domestic seafarers, manning levels and crew competency requirements, terms and conditions of employment; accommodation and food; Medical care, inspection and enforcement; and dispute resolution.
The Magna Carta outlines the rights of seafarers, including just terms and conditions of work, the right to self-organization and collective bargaining, affordable access to educational advancement, the right to information, and the protection of a seafarer’s family or next of kin.
The law also ensures seafarers’ right to safe passage, legal representation, medical attention, access to communication, and fair treatment in case of a maritime accident.
Additional protections are provided to female seafarers, safeguarding them from gender-based discrimination and ensuring they receive equal compensation as their male counterparts.
(AHLETTE REYES, PIA-8)
