At least 360,000 Filipino seafarers are aboard EU vessels
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. is seeking “vigorous and sustainable reforms” in the maritime industry for the Philippines to pass the European Union safety audit in October and be able to save the jobs of Filipino seafarers boarding European Union-flagged commercial vessels.
At least 360,000 Filipino seafarers are aboard EU vessels but their number will be pared down by 80,000 initially if the Philippines flunks the safety audit to be conducted by the EU Maritime Safety Agency.
Belmonte stressed the need to upgrade standards of training for the sailors to ensure that all schools comply with international norms and principles.
“Let us do everything we can to pass it (EU maritime audit). Whatever is necessary, our concerned government agencies must be ready to implement the reforms. Part of it is to upgrade the schools. We need vigorous reforms with sustainable outcomes and I believe we can do it,” Belmonte said in an interview.
Belmonte said the Philippine government is “working very hard” to get the nod of the European Maritime Safety Agency which conducts the audit and review of the country’s maritime administration The last audit was held from April 15 to 19.
Filipino sailors comprise 25 percent of the entire global maritime workforce.
Source: Manila Standard Today