Challenges Faced by Filipino Seafarers and the Magna Carta Advocacy

Filipino seafarers and the challenges they face in their profession were noticeably absent from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22, as pointed out by the Association of Licensed Manning Agencies (ALMA) Maritime Group in a message to its members following the SONA. ALMA highlighted the absence of any mention of the Magna Carta of Seafarers in the President’s speech, expressing disappointment that the legislation has not been signed into law or addressed in any significant way.

The group has been advocating for the Magna Carta of Seafarers, particularly Section 59, which aims to combat ambulance chasing in the industry. Section 59, which replaced a controversial escrow provision, requires seafarers to post a bond in cases of monetary claims if a manning agency appeals a decision to a higher court. However, this section was removed from the Magna Carta, prompting ALMA to express its concerns through a letter to key government officials.

In response to the removal of Section 59, ALMA engaged in discussions with various stakeholders, including the International Maritime Employers’ Council, Department of Transportation, and Maritime Industry Authority, to address the issue of ambulance chasing in the seafaring industry. The group also met with Rep. Jude Acidre of Tingog Partylist, the newly installed chairman of the House Committee on Migrant Workers’ Affairs, to discuss the next steps in advocating for the rights of Filipino seafarers.

Source .