Following his call for the establishment of a central governing agency for overseas Filipino workers (OFW), Senator Joel Villanueva is now pushing for the magna carta of Filipino seafarers.
Villanueva, together with Senators Loren Legarda, Sonny Angara, and JV Ejercito authored Senate Bills No. 244, 314, and 904 otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Seafarers.
The senator stressed that the bill will further secure the rights of all Filipino seafarers and provide better inter-agency coordination.
“Kung saan may barko, tiyak na may Pilipino – sa mga cargo ship, cruise ship, tanker, at fishing vessel,” said Villanueva during the hearing of the proposed Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers Act.
The senator added that the bill will cover benefits, proper working conditions, and the recruitment and placement of seafarers.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, about 700,000 Filipinos work as seafarers and 380,000 are deployed to foreign seas.
“Naniniwala po tayo na ang mga panukalang batas na ito ay angkla sa matatag na trabaho at magandang kinabukasan ng mga Pinoy seaman at seawoman at kanilang pamilya,” added Villanueva.
