Manila 2002 Filipino Seafarers’ National Convention
Filipino Seafarers’ National Convention
27-28 September 2002
The Manila Hotel, Philippines
FILIPINO SEAFARERS’ NATIONAL CONVENTION
ADOPTS MAGNA CARTA FOR SEAFARERS
Manila. – The more than 500 participants to the Filipino Seafarers’ National Convention, held at the Manila Hotel last September 27-28, concluded their historic gathering with unanimous call for the passage of a Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers.
The draft Magna Carta was the main output of the Convention. It is a proposed bill to be submitted to both houses of the Philippine Congress. Together with other output-documents of the Convention which were adopted by consensus, the draft Magna Carta was turned over to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the end of the two-day event. The proposed Magna Carta spells out a series of governmental reforms, such as the introduction of a one-stop processing and documentation center, which the Convention deemed necessary in order to promote the leading role of the country as the world’s top supplier of seafaring labour. It also contains provisions for the more effective implementation of international maritime labour conventions and standards as well as provisions to foster the empowerment and social security of seafarers and their families.
Magna Carta in the making: Dr. Peter Payoyo of PSAP (extreme right) joins Professor Merlin Magallona, DFA Undersecretary A. Brion, POEA Administrator Rosalinda Baldoz and Atty. J. Guerrerro of the Office of the Vice President for plenary discussions during the Convention.
The historic Convention (FSNC) carried the theme Pulong-Pulong ng mga Marinong Pilipino: Pagsulong ng Talino, Kakayahan, at Matatag na Kinabukasan (“A Gathering of Filipino Seafarers: For the Advancement of Skills, Empowerment, and a Secure Future”). It was convened by the Office of the Vice-President of the Philippines and organized by the multi-sectoral National Organizing Committee (NOC), of which PSAP is a member. The Commission on Filipinos, an attached agency to the Department of Foreign Affairs, served as the Secretariat of the Convention.
The idea of convening a national gathering for Filipino seafarers came up in late 2001 during informal consultations between Professor Merlin Magallona, then-DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, and Dr. Peter Payoyo, Programme Manager of PSAP. The idea quickly gathered pace and in January 2002, the National Organizing Committee was called to its first meeting at the DFA in Manila. The NOC members include the Apostleship of the Sea, The Episcopal Commission for the Care of Migrants and Itinerant People of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Masters and Mates Association of the Philippines, Marine Engineers and Officers Association of the Philippines, PSAP, KAKAMMPI, UFS, and AMOSUP.
Participating government agencies included the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the National Labor Relations Commission, the Maritime Industry Authority, the Committees on labor of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and the University of the Philippines Law Center.
To prepare for the National Convention, regional consultations by the NOC were held around the world. These regional consultations were spearheaded by the PSAP-convened international Conference in Rotterdam last June that went with the title “The Filipino Seafarer in the 21st Century: Issues and Interests Aboard and Ashore”. PSAP presented its independent input to the FSNC in Manila, “The Rotterdam Programme of Action”, which was greatly welcomed by Convention participants. In many ways, the draft Magna Carta responds to the numerous issues and challenges identified in the Rotterdam Programme of Action. It could even be said that the draft Magna Carta adopted by the FSNC pursues the general, more comprehensive framework for policy action defined under the Rotterdam Programme of Action.
After the successfully concluded FSNC, Professor Magallona, as Chair of the NOC and overall chairman of the Convention, congratulated and thanked PSAP, saying “We hope that you will continue to support efforts towards actualizing our vision of a truly competitive, protected, united, and empowered Filipino seafarer”.
President Macapagal-Arroyo, who offered a reception in Malacanang to all delegates, expressed her enthusiasm to the seafarers’ welfare initiative begun by the Convention. She entrusted the follow-up of the FSNC especially to Vice President Teofisto Guingona. The Report of the Convention, prepared by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, will provide the basis for concrete steps to be taken to push the draft Magna Carta through Congess as soon as possible.
The “Rotterdam Programme of Action” adopted on 21 June 2002 by a pioneering international conference is an important reference document of the Filipino Seafarers’ National Convention. It will continue to provide overall guidance to national and international efforts to promote the welfare and protect the rights and interests of Filipino seafarers and their families. Read the Programme of Action in its entirety. This is YOUR Programme of Action.
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