Senate ratifies bicam report on proposed Magna Carta of Seafarers

Seafarers who returned from abroad who had just gone through quarantine are released from the COVID-19 field hospital at Quirino Grandstand, Manila, in 2022. (File photo by RICHARD A. REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate ratified on Wednesday the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed Magna Carta of Filipino seafarers during its plenary session.

The report is a reconciled version of the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No. 2221 and House Bill No. 7325.

“Just a little bit more and this Magna Carta of Filipino seafarers will have concluded its long and turbulent journey. It is ready to go home to our beloved Filipino seafarers and be a lighthouse to their voyages,” Sen. Raffy Tulfo, chairperson of the chamber’s panel on migrant workers, said.

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According to Tulfo, the highlights of the reconciled report are as follows:

• On the proposed annual leave, bicam members agreed to a compromise of 3.5 calendar days per month of employment for Filipino seafarers.
• The Senate also adopted the House version institutionalizing shipboard training that will be regulated and monitored by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina)
• Bicam members likewise came up with a provision on the execution of judgment and monetary award under which the winning party would be ensured restitution of the disputed monetary award in case of a reversal on appeal.

“The bicam version providing for a bond for the disputed portion is a response to the problem of an unrestituted amount of P2.57 billion when cases are reversed in favor of shipowners. This is too substantial to be ignored,” Tulfo said.

According to Tulfo, in the bicam version, the bond will be posted only for the disputed portion of the award. This means that if a seafarer ultimately prevails in the case, he will be reimbursed for the cost of putting up the bond.

“This is the win-win solution formulated by the body,” he said.

Tulfo then moved for the ratification of the committee report. Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva seconded Tulfo’s motion.

With no objections from senators present, the bicameral conference committee report on the Magna Carta of Seafarers was approved and ratified by the Senate.