MARITIME COMMUNITY OBSERVES FILIPINO SEAFARER'S DAY

With  the  issuance of  Presidential  Proclamation No. 183 on  June  3, 2011, the "Day  of  the  

Filipino  Seafarer"  has  since been  observed  every  25th  Day of June, in support   of  the  resolution adopted in June, 2010, by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) declaring every 25th of June each year as the "Day of the Seafarer".

 The observance has been recognized by no less than  the United Nations Organization (UNO) itself as to the important role that seafarers play in the global economy , about 80 % of which is moved via sea transport, said  Director Marianito D. Mendoza, of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) of Region XI, which is  tasked by  the presidential proclamation as the lead agency for the said annual observance.

 Director Mendoza added that, according to data obtained from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), there are more than 600,000  registered  Filipino Seafarers who  manned  more than half of the number of  vessels serving the world economy. This alone shows that Filipino seafarers are most preferred by shipping principals and its manning agents primarily due to their globally competitive working knowledge, skills and attitudes in the work place. As such, the Philippines has been considered  as  the crewing capital of the maritime world.   

Being world class is neither a fantasy nor a hearsay, as the Filipino Seafarers have been cited and considered in the presidential  proclamation  as the "sailing ambassadors" of the country  "for having demonstrated before the global maritime community the best traits of the Filipino ".  It has been reported also that they contributed, in form of remittances, more than 4 billion US dollars to the national coffers in 2010.

During the stakeholders meeting last June 14, 2013, held at the MARINA R.O. XI conference room, it was initially agreed to highlight this year's observance on Tuesday,  June 25, 2013,  with the simultaneous blowing of ships' horn starting at 8:00 a.m., to be followed by a Thanksgiving Mass at the Sasa covered court of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), then a motorcade to be participated by the various maritime institutions, organizations  and government agencies from Sasa Wharf to select streets in the downtown area, and back to the  PPA covered court for the simple opening program.

 A symposium in the afternoon will be conducted for seafarers and families as well as the graduating maritime students to be conducted by the Overseas Worker Welfare Administration (OWWA) and maritime institutions / training centers.  The AMOSUP hospital at R. Castillo St., Agdao, is  scheduled to undertake bloodletting activity in coordination with accredited clinics for the potential donors. Meanwhile, a friendly basketball tournament to be participated in by the maritime schools and government functionaries such as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), PNP Maritime Group, among others,  is also being readied for the Filipino seafarer's day.

Thus, the MARINA together with the maritime stakeholders collectively say : " Maraming Salamat at Mabuhay Ka, Marinong Pilipino Karangalan ng Mundo !!! ", as this year's congratulatory theme for the observance. (MROXI/vcas)