FILE PHOTO An employee of a Philippine staffing agency for seafarers mans the recruiting booth at a seafarer’s park in Manila. The Philippines supplies a third of the worlds merchant mariners, whose remittances help to buoy the economy. AFP PHOTO/LUIS LIWANAG (Photo by LUIS LIWANAG / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — First-time seafarers would now be able to get their seaman’s book for free, according to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.
During President Rodrigo Duterte’s late Monday night briefing, Tugade made the announcement saying that the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has approved their proposal to give the seaman’s book to neophyte seamen free of charge
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) chief said this would be a big help to seafarers especially amid the financial woes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Kanina lang ho nangyari, natapos ‘yong meeting ng Marina board, pina-approve ho namin na tulong sa ating mga seafarers at mga seamen sa pandemya ngayon, ‘yong mga first-time na seamen na kukuha ng seamen’s book, ang halaga nito, P1,000 to P1,800, depende kung saan mo kukunin, libre na ho ‘yon dito sa termino niyo Mr. President,” Tugade said.
“Parang tulong sa mga seamen ‘pag kinuha na nila ‘yong seamen’s certificate for the first time, libre na ho ‘yon,” he added.
For those who would renew their seaman’s book, Tugade said that they are offering a 50 percent discount until December 2022.
“Ang tanong, papaano naman ‘yong nag-renew? Inapprove din ho ng Marina board, kanina ho mga alas singko, ano ‘yong inapprove? Fifty percent discount until December of this year, ito ho ‘yong tulong natin sa seafarers,” he added.
Over the course of the pandemic, Filipino seafarers are among the most-affected workers as lockdowns and long processes prevented them from getting back to their ships for work abroad. Also, several ships were subjected to stringent quarantine protocols after some crew members tested positive for COVID-19.