Marcos to sign Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to sign the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers and two other landmark laws on Monday.

The proposed Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, certified as urgent by Marcos in September last year, aims to uplift the welfare of Filipino seamen and boost their competitiveness in the global arena. It seeks to address recurring deficiencies in the domestic laws on the training and accreditation of Filipino seafarers that jeopardize their opportunities for employment abroad.

“The President also said that the bill guarantees to the international community that the Philippines will comply with its obligations of ensuring that Filipino seafarers’ training, facilities, and equipment are at par with the international standards and those set by relevant international conventions,” Malacañang said.

The Philippines since 2006 had been flagged by the the European Union for failing to comply with international standards for maritime workers. It later warned that it would withdraw its recognition of Filipino seafarers’ certificates unless the matter was addressed.

In March last year, the European Commission decided to continue recognizing seafarers’ certificates issued by the Philippines after the government vowed to improve its maritime programs.

Filipino mariners comprise more than 25 percent of the 1.5 million seamen worldwide, the most from any country.

The other two laws that Marcos will sign on Monday are the Expanded Centenarians Act and the Tatak Pinoy or Proudly Filipino Act.

The Expanded Centenarian Act, sponsored by the President’s sister Sen. Maria

Imelda Josefa “Imee” Marcos, mandates increased benefits for senior citizens.

Under the bill, Filipino senior citizens living in the Philippines or abroad shall be granted P10,000 upon reaching 80 years old, P20,000 upon reaching 90 years old, and P100,000 upon reaching 100 years old.

The measure proposes that financial aid for seniors should be adjusted for inflation after one year from the effectivity of the law, as determined by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

“The rising cost of living and health care expenses has made it very difficult for our senior citizens to afford basic necessities … it is hoped that more of our elderly population may be able to benefit from the Centenarians Act and that they may be inspired to further prolong and enjoy their lives even beyond a century,” Senator Marcos said.

Meanwhile, the Tatak Pinoy or Proudly Filipino Act seeks to prioritize local products and make them more globally competitive.

It mandates the creation of the “Tatak Pinoy Council,” a policy and advisory body with a direct link to the President.

The director general of NEDA will serve as the new body’s chairman, while the secretaries of the Departments of Trade and Industry and Finance will serve as deputies.

“We focus strongly on our Filipino workers’ skills, creativity and innovation. This legislation aims to support local enterprises and ensure inclusive economic growth that reaches all corners of our nation, benefiting the urban poor, subsistence farmers, Indigenous communities, and our micro, small and medium-sized enterprises,” House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said.

The Tatak Pinoy bill was among the 12 priority measures mentioned by Marcos in his second State of the Nation Address in July last year.