MANILA, Philippines — Amid circulating accusations online, former senator and reelectionist Antonio Trillanes IV urged Filipino seafarers to listen to Vice President Leni Robredo’s sentiments on the maritime industry.
According to Trillanes, Robredo’s plans are already “aligned with the industry’s navigational map.”
The reelectionist said this after Robredo discussed her vision of turning the Philippines into a maritime power by boosting the shipping industry during the recent online forum with the Filipino Shipping Association (FSA) on March 7.
Trillanes said it was even reviewed by industry leaders, experts and seafarers, “and were the ones who gave the inputs.”
“Ito ay ayon na rin sa consultative style ni VP Leni sa pagpanday ng mga mahahalagang polisiya,” said Trillanes.
(This is also in line with VP Leni’s consultative style in formulating important policies.)
“For me, her statement during her talk with leaders of the Filipino shipping industry is her official policy articulation, hindi ‘yung pineke sa (it was not faked like on) TikTok or sa YouTube,” he added.
In the said forum, Robredo shared her plans for economic development, reiterating her vow to include seafarers and the local maritime industry in her economic platform.
She also highlighted the country should produce more Filipino seafarers recognized by global shipping fleets as fit to become ship officers.
“By far, she’s the only presidential candidate who had made it very clear that the seafaring industry – most especially the seafarer – would be one of her major economic pillars,” said Trillanes.
No disrespect to seafarers
The senatorial contender then stressed that Robredo meant no disrespect in proposing calibrated retooling programs for new mariners because she recognized Filipino seafarers’ skills and capacities.
“Hindi tayo pwede malamangan ng mga seamen from Indonesia and India dahil mabilis na sila nakakahabol sa training,” Trillanes said.
(We can’t be surpassed by seamen from Indonesia and India because they can catch up fast in the training.)
“The troll farm that deems this as belittling or disrespecting our Pinoy Marino may have never known a relative or a neighbor who worked in an international vessel,” he added.
This came after several accusations surfaced on Facebook claiming Robredo belittled seafarers in a statement during the first presidential debate organized by the Commission on Elections.
The allegations were referring to a spliced statement made by Robredo when she advocated for the declaration of an education crisis in the Philippines, citing sailors as an example.
However, in the full context of the statement, Robredo was actually referring to the apparent lack of training for seafarers, alluding to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).
If flagged for non-compliance with the STCW, the EU can revoke the recognition for Filipino seafarers.
On March 22, Sen. Joel Villanueva also warned that around 30,000 Filipino seafarers may lose their jobs if an international standard on the training of seafarers is not implemented by the country.
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