Singapore 2007 ICSW Regional Seminar for South East Asia
ICSW Regional Seminar 2007 for South East Asia
Singapore 2007 ICSW Regional Seminar
17-20 September 2007
Singapore
Over 100 delegates from 26 countries gathered in Singapore on September 17-20 to promote seafarers’ welfare in South East Asia. At the end of the meeting, participants adopted a regional development programme to strengthen seafarers’ welfare structures and services in the region. The programme will encourage the formation of welfare committees to assist in the provision of welfare facilities for seafarers in the ports where none exist. The chief beneficiaries of the regional programme are all the seafarers sailing in the region, especially Filipino seafarers who make up the majority of the crews in world shipping.
The seminar was organized by the International Committee on Seafarers Welfare, a global umbrella organization whose members include government agencies, the International Shipping Federation, the ITF, ICMA as well as other church-based seafarers’ missions, the IMHA, the International Ship Managers Association, and numerous civil society foundations and NGOs. Atty. Peter Payoyo of PSAP, who is currently Vice-chairman of the ICSW, represents Philippine seafarers’ interests in this global organization.
The ICSW seafarers’ welfare programme for South East Asia, to be financed by the ITF Seafarers’ Trust, covers 7 countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Similar regional development programmes are currently in place in Eastern Europe, Africa, South Asia, and Latin America (check out the ICSW at www.seafarerswelfare.org).
At the national level, the Philippine sub-programme will be developed alongside the regional structure. During the Singapore seminar, delegates from the Philippines already proposed a strategy to fulfill the ICWS mission in the country as soon as possible.
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- Pinoy delegates in Singapore: (back L-R) – Atty. Chester Quintal, ISAN London; Fr. Jack Walsh, AOS Davao; Dir. Albert Valenciano, OWWA Manila; Fr. Perpetuo Conception, AOS La Union; Fr. Vic Labao, AOS Cebu; Joy Diaz, AOS Davao; Fr. Savino Bernardi, AOS Manila; Julie Legaspi, AOS Davao; (front L-R); Dr. Peter Payoyo, ICSW/PSAP; Atty. Dennis Gorecho, AOS Manila. Not in photo: Rev. Vic Atanacio, SCFS; Carmelita Jamay & Francisca. Llanto, AOS; Capt. Manuel Dy, PSU; Rev. Segundo Big-Asan & Rev. Nic L. Tuban, BISS.
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- Session on Seafarers Rights: Rebecca Chetwoot, International Shipping Federation; Douglas Stevenson, Center for Seafarers Rights; Shigeru Wada, ITF Asia Pacific; and Andrew Elliott, ICSW.
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- Seminar participants view a miniature of gigantic Singapore port during an outing as Singaporean hosts showcased global best-practices in the delivery of seafarers welfare services.
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- The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore even organized a bowling tournament for seafarers and Seminar participants.
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