Marino Party-list first representative Sandro Gonzalez has called on the government to include the seafarers in its social amelioration program in the aftermath of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as prioritize the sector in the Balik Probinsya Program.
This after Gonzalez’ action center received communications from seafarers themselves who either lost their jobs during the COVID-19 or were not able to acquire a green light for their overseas employment due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila. Gonzalez has filed House Resolution No. 842 on May 7 for this undertaking.
“ln the maritime sector, the pandemic has seen severe restrictions put in place on the deployment of Filipino seafarers worldwide. Shipping has been crippled as large swaths of the global economy shut down for extended periods,” Gonzalez said.
Based on the data provided by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), there were 28,443 Filipino seafarers who got repatriated as of May 8 while 27,272 others are expected to be repatriated in the coming days.
This brings the number of seafarers who lost their jobs to 55,715. This is on top of the thousand other seafarers who are stuck in Manila due to the community lockdown, pleading for government support in this time of adversity.
According to the solon, remittances from the Filipino seafarers have abetted the country’s economy, especially during the years it struggled the most. It is therefore fitting that the government should layout appropriate policies and programs to give back to the seafarers in these trying times.
“It is the duty and obligation of the government to lay out appropriate policies and programs that will provide comprehensive financial and non-financial assistance to unemployed seafarers as a deed of reciprocity and in recognition of their sacrifices and hardship in keeping our economy robust through their enormous remittances,” Gonzalez mentioned.
