Sea Sunday: Magna carta should expand, and not limit, the seafarers rights

These are seafarers, in this photo taken on Sept. 29, 2019, during the 23rd National Seafarers’ Day in Manila .   INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Promote  the rights of the seafarers against abusive employers and unjust placement agencies.

This is the call of the Stella Maris Philippines on the occasion of Sea Sunday, which is observed on the second Sunday of July each year.

A job of a seafarer is not exactly a walk in the park. A vessel has always been identified as a high risk workplace. The industry remains fraught with health and safety hazards that increase seafarers’ risks of accidents, illnesses and mortality.

Sea Sunday

Sea Sunday is set  by many Christian Churches as an international day of remembrance, prayer and celebration, and an opportunity to thank seafarers and fishermen who work tirelessly throughout the year bringing us more than ninety percent of the goods we need.

“Let us accept the essential and valuable contributions of our seafarers. They are our front liners, living channels for economic development, for cultural progress and human advancement,” according to a statement released by Stella Maris Philippines.

Stella Maris

Stella Maris  is the Catholic Church’s missionary work to the peoples of the sea, particularly seafarers, whether they be on merchant, passenger, war or fishing vessels.

Stella Maris added that goods which we use, patronize or give did not come to us easily, instantly. “Everything and everyone exerts patience, perseverance and performance. There are indeed constant sacrifices and services are rendered. We can say blood, sweat and tears are shed. And these are from our seafarers and seaport workers; ship builders and owners; and our coast guards and port officials.”

It added: “The seas connect people. The seas give life and livelihood. The seas transport, move everything and everyone around the globe.”

Supplier of maritime labor

The Philippines is considered as the major supplier of maritime labor globally as it is estimated that there is one Filipino seafarer for every four to five complements on board a vessel at any time.

Filipino seafarers deployed in 2022 reached 489,852 with the corresponding dollar remittances amounting to $6,715,880,000. 

In terms of deployment, the records from the Department of Migrant Workers and Statista showed that the total number of Filipino seafarers deployed overseas reached 376,663 in 2017; 337,502 in 2018; 469,996 in 2019; 217,223 in 2020; 345.52 in 2021; and 489,852 in 2022.

OFW dollar remittances

The sea-based sector’s remittances comprise at least 22 percent of the total OFW dollar remittances.

Records from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas indicate the sea-based sector’s remittances for the past six years: $6,870,827,000 in 2017; $6,139,512,000 in 2018; $6,539,246,000 in 2019; $6,353,522,000 in 2020; $6,545, 002,000 in 2021; and $6,715,880, 000 in 2022.

The data showed that remittances increased in 2018 by $731,315,000; then increased in 2019 by $399,734,000; then decreased in 2020 by $185,724,000; then increased in 2021 by $191,480,000; then increased in 2022 by $172,878,000.

“Let us see with grateful heart their services, their sacrifices and of their families,” Stella Maris said.

World Day of Seafarers

Aside from Sea Sunday, other events are held to honor seafarers including World Day of Seafarers and the National Seafarers’ Day (NSD).

In 2010, the Conference of Parties to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) adopted a resolution establishing the Day of the Seafarer every June 25.

The Philippines also celebrates the NSD every  last Sunday of September every year. Masses and prayers for the safe voyage of seafarers are traditionally part of the annual NSD, which is celebrated by virtue of Proclamation 828 issued on July 9, 1996 declaring August 18 as NSD. It was later moved to the last Sunday of September every year by Proclamation 1094.

The purpose of NSD is to give due recognition to the vital role of Filipino seafarers towards the development of the Philippines as a maritime country.

Stella Maris is tasked to coordinate with the public and private sectors for the NSD activities.

Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers

A pending legislation that stakeholders are awaiting is the passage of the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers.

The proposed Magna Carta seeks to implement the standards set by MLC2006 to ensure protection of the rights and welfare of Filipino seafarers by recognizing their rights, instituting mechanisms for its enforcement.

The Magna Carta should be for the Filipino Seafarers, not for those whom the law sought to protect them from abuses and violations of their rights.

The magna carta should expand, and not limit, the seafarers rights.

A provision that will adversely affect a seafarer’s cause in whatever manner or nature has no place in a legal document that should be for their protection in the first place.

The pending Magna Carta be the translation into reality of President  Magsaysay’s wisdom.: “He who has less in life should have more in law”.

(Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail a[email protected], or call 09175025808 or 09088665786.)