Govt sets tougher rules for seafarers

Published by rudy Date posted on January 7, 2010

Transport authorities have set harsher punishments for erring seafarers and will require them to render local service before allowing them to work abroad.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza said these measures were meant to raise the bar of safety in the accident-prone seafaring industry.

“Findings show that miscalculations and lack of competence of our crew are root causes of shipping accidents,” said Mendoza, adding that competent seafarers are working abroad for better compensation packages.

As such, he said the government was planning to impose a two-year mandatory service in domestic shipping.

“Most of them [sailors] are scholars of the Philippine Merchant Academy so they should pay back the government,” Mendoza said.

He also recommended harsher penalties on erring seafarers. “Suspension and cancellation of their licenses were recommended by stakeholders,” Mendoza said.

Meanwhile, Maritime Industry Authority Administrator Maria Elena Bautista said government had allotted P5 million for the procurement of GPS (Global Positional System) and VMS (vessel monitoring system) devices to ensure faster response to distress calls from vessels.

“All registered vessels will get these devices for free from Marina. But they have to pay from P500 to P800 in monthly subscription fee,” Bautista said.

Initially, only roll-on, roll-off vessels will be supplied with these devices. Outrigger bancas will be equipped with the monitoring device.

In the past two years, Transport agencies recorded eight maritime accidents involving four Roro vessels, three outrigger bancas and one wooden hull.

Philippine Coast Guard also submitted recommendations to improve vessel safety.

Its proposals include more frequent inspection schedule, prescription of age cap for passenger vessel importations and the phase-out of passenger wooden hull vessel.

It also recommended the adoption of international safety and environmental protection standards that will include life-saving appliances, communications and navigational equipment requirements in the domestic trade. –Jeremiah de Guzman, Manila Standard Today

July 2025

Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”

Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.

Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar.  Reject Military!

#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos

Time to support & empower survivors. Time to spark a global conversation. Time for #GenerationEquality to #orangetheworld!

July


3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 Ju
ly – International Plastic Bag Free Day
 
5 July –
World Youth Skills Day 
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day 
17 July – World Day for
International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons 


Monthly Observances:

Schools Safety Month

Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month

Weekly Observances:

Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week

 

Daily Observances:

First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines

Categories

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.