EVERYBODY agrees that the genuine concern for Filipino seafarers and their families being demonstrated by the government of President Marcos is, without doubt, most encouraging.
Note that the annual multibillion-peso remittances of our seafarers, who are aboard ocean-going and foreign-owned ships, help prop up the still struggling Philippine economy.
We also note that Filipino mariners are acknowledged as the undisputed “darling” of foreign ship owners in various parts of the world due to their many sterling qualities.
They are not only highly-trained, but Filipino seafarers, men and women, are also known for their loyalty, honesty, integrity and willingness to work without complaining.
Thus, we are heartened that the Marcos administration is paying attention to our international mariners and their loved ones in the country.
In fact, Filipino mariners and their families can now easily access key government services in one location following the opening of a dedicated Seafarers’ Welfare Center in Paranaque City.
Last Friday, Hans Leo Cacdac and Patricia Yvonne Caunan, secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and chief of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), respectively, inaugurated the center last Friday.
The center will remove bureaucratic bottlenecks by consolidating frontline agencies, allowing seafarers to process documentation and other welfare concerns more efficiently.
Among the services available are those from the Social Security System, Home Development Mutual (Pag-IBIG) Fund, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) as well as legal assistance from the Public Attorney’s Office.
Certainly, the setting up of the center is a move in the right direction, which we, without second thoughts, applaud.
The post Seafarers’ center appeared first on Journal News Online.
