SENATOR Idol Raffy Tulfo has expressed elation over the Senate’s approval on third and final reading of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers bill yesterday, Sept. 27, in time for the celebration of the National Maritime Week.
The measure was approved with 14 affirmative votes, no abstention and no negative vote.
Tulfo, principal sponsor and one of the authors of Senate Bill (SB) No. 2221, thanked everyone who supported the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers bill that will institutionalize the rights that will protect seafarers.
“I would like to thank my colleagues for their support for this measure, especially Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri who has been supportive of this bill from Day 1.,” he said.
“I am equally thankful to the seafarers and their union, including the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines. This bill is an early Christmas gift to all seafarers,” he added.
Sen. Idol also reiterated his thanks to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for certifying the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers as “urgent.”
Under SB No. 2221, “the State shall endeavor to secure decent working and living conditions for seafarers, standardize the terms and conditions of their employment, regulate operations of manning agencies and incentivize maritime stakeholders, establish and enhance mechanisms for administrative, adjudicative, and social and welfare services for the seafarers and their families.”
Tulfo, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, earlier divulged supposed moves by several groups to strongly block the passage of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers bill at the Senate in previous Congress.
In the 18th Congress, it can be noted that the said bill was left pending for Second Reading at the Senate despite overwhelming support from several senators while its counterpart measure has already hurdled third reading at the House of Representatives.
For the 19th Congress, aside from Tulfo, 14 Senators filed their versions of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers including Senate President Migz Zubiri, Majority Floor Leader Senator Joel Villanueva, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Robinhood Padilla, Cynthia Villar, Risa Hontiveros, Sonny Angara, Grace Poe, Win Gatchalian, Bong Revilla, Bong Go, Bato dela Rosa, and Mark Villar.
