Tulfo wants swift passage of Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers

MANILA, Philippines — The seizure of the MSC Aries vessel boarded by four Filipino seamen prompted another lawmaker — this time Senator Raffy Tulfo — to call for the immediate passage of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers.

“Ang Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers ang magbibigay ng karagdagang proteksyon sa mga marinong Pinoy, tulad ng karapatan sa ligtas na paglalayag sa mga high-risk area, agarang tulong sa panahon ng trahedya dulot ng terorismo at karapatan ng kanilang pamilya na mabigyan ng wasto at napapanahong impormasyon tungkol sa kanilang estado, lalo na pag sila’y nalalagay sa alanganing sitwasyon,” said Tulfo, chairperson of the Senate committee on migrant workers, in a statement on Wednesday.

(The Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers will provide additional protection to Filipino seafarers, such as the right to safe sailing in high-risk areas, immediate assistance during tragedies caused by terrorism, and the right of their families to be given proper and timely information about their state, especially when they are put in a precarious situation.)

READ: 4 Filipino crewmen on ship seized by Iran

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was supposed to sign the Magna Carta of Seafarers into law in February, but he postponed it as it is still “under further review.”

READ: Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers still under review – PCO

Prior to Tulfo’s call, Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo, chair of the House committee on overseas workers affairs, and OFW Rep. Marissa Magsino already emphasized the “critical importance” of the measure, urging its passage.

READ: Magna Carta of Seafarers pushed amid maritime threats

Iranian forces seized the MSC Aries on April 14. Aboard the vessel were its 25 crew members, four of whom were Filipinos.

According to Tulfo, he is coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the families of the four seafarers, as well as the vessel’s manning agency.

Citing DMW, Tulfo said the manning agency of the MSC Aries — otherwise known as the MSC Crewing Services Philippines Inc. — is expected to submit an “official report” of the incident within five days since the seizing transpired. Ana Mae Malate, INQUIRER.net trainee