Marino Partylist praises the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) after granting the request of First Representaive Sandro Gonzalez in increasing the daily arrival capacity of the Ninoy International Airport (NAIA) from 2,000 to 3,000 for seafarers and land-based Overseas Filipino Workers.
The border and travel restrictions implemented worldwide due to COVID-19 pandemic hampered the return of almost 8,000 distressed and stranded Filipino seafarers. Marino saw the need to increase, if not exempt, the number of mariners that NAIA can cater in a day to expedite their return.
“30% of the Overseas Filipino Workers are seafarers and their situation is unique because they can only stay on-board for twelve months. Thus, the prioritization of their immediate return is important to secure their safety and to process the renewal of their documents for redeployment,” said Marino Partylist Representative Sandro Gonzalez.
According to CAB’s advisory, NAIA will start catering more sea-based and land-based OFWs, Returning Overseas Filipinos, and foreign nationals starting October 1 subject to the provisions of Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2021-01. The 3,000 daily capacity shall be evenly distributed among operating airlines and non-compliance is subject to penalties.
“This is good news to our seafarers because many of them face emotional and psychological troubles while staying on-board for a prolonged period. Some even suffer from withholding of their salaries and expiration of passports. Delayed return means delayed employment for them,” said Marino Partylist Second Representative Macnell Lusotan.
This milestone is one of the several COVID-19 responses that the Marino Partylist accomplished in providing assistance to the Filipino seafarers. It has been at the forefront of pushing for their prioritization in the government’s vaccination program and providing assistance through Marino Action Center.
“Our Filipino seafarers have contributed laregly to the Philippine economy during the pandemic. With NAIA increasing its daily arrival capacity, we expect that more seafarers will be able to return to their families before the year ends,” added Rep. Gonzalez.
