AMOSUP cites seafarers’ development role

Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s’ Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) president Dr. Conrado F. Oca has underscored the role of Filipino seafarers in national development and for consistently raising the brand of Filipino seamanship worldwide in terms of competence, professionalism, and cordiality with foreign counterparts.

In a statement during the recently celebrated 18th National Maritime Week (NMW) and 22nd National Seafarers’ Day Dr. Oca, also the union’s chairman, said Filipino seamen deployed aboard foreign ships continue to be “most sought” by foreign principals. “Their skills and knowledge in the job, and their communications to superiors and colleagues through the English language, as well as their resiliency to challenging situations are undoubtedly their huge assets in the profession,” the AMOSUP chief. stressed.

AMOSUP has more than 100,000 members at present. The membership continues to grow up. Overseas Filipino seafarers currently number some 500,000 recording more than $5-billion remittance to the country annually over the past several years.

The National Maritime Week 2017 was celebrated nationwide last Sept. 24 to 27, with kick off rites led by AMOSUP headed by Dr. Oca and VAdm Eduardo Ma. R. Santos, the union’s EVP and MAAP president; a holy mass officiated by spiritual Fr. Eligio R. Santos, last Sept. 17 at the Seafarers’ Monument, Baywalk, Roxas Boulevard, Representatives from Manila city government, Marina, PCG, Navy and PPA likewise graced the event, which were, highlighted by flower offering and fluvial parade by navymen and coast guards at historic Manila Bay as tribute to departed Filipino seafarers, who included master mariner Capt. Gregorio S. Oca, the AMOSUP founder, FAME founder Capt. Benjamin Mata and other icons in the seafaring and maritime industry. On Sept. 21, AMOSUP hosted an on-thespot art contest, and the 14th oratorical contest at AMOSUP convention hall in Intramuros, Manila. This year’s NMW carries the IMO theme: “Connecting Ships, Ports and People.”

The 22nd National Seafarers’ Day was held at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay city last Sept. 24, led by Apostleship of the Se (AOS), the NSD committee and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina). The Marina leads organizing agency, in collaboration with the PCG and PPA.