The Associated Marine Officers’ and Seaman’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP), headed by its president Capt. Gregorio S. Oca (MM, Ph.D) lauded Friday (Dec. 18) the Philippine government, through the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), for becoming ‘all’ ship owners, principals, managers and manning agencies to train all seafarers working aboard their vessels transiting the gulf of Aden.

“This government’s move is most laudable and very timely said Oca, stressing that Filipino seafaring concerned urgently need the anti-piracy, anti-kidnapping training and immediate actions to be taken during hostage-taking situations”.

Particularly, Capt. Oca hailed the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) and its officials headed by Secretary Marianito D. Roque and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) under Secretary Alverto Romulo for his concerns to protect the lives of overseas seamen on board ships traversing the gulf.

During a tripartite conference held at the AMOSUP national office in Intramuros, Manila last week, Roque who chairs the governing board of Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), “the requirement is in accordance with the policy of the State to offer full protection to labor, local and overseas, to protect the rights of workers, as well as to promote their welfare.’’

In the same conference, Roque cited POEA governing board resolutions No. 4 series of 2009, 3 of series of 2009 and 5 also of series of 2009, where the area within the Gulf of Aden has been declared a “high risk’’ zone, and the necessity to address the concerns for the welfare of Filipino seafarers transitting the area against the spate of piracy and the occurrence of hostage-taking there.

Roque, together with POEA Administrator Jennifer Jardine Manalili told delegates that, “despite said issuances, there is an increasing incidence of piracy and pirate attacks not only within the ‘high risk’ zone, but even outside it, that not requires ‘more drastic’ measures, to ensure the safety and welfare of Philippine workers.’’

Presenting as a strong weapon to protect Filipino seafarers overseas, Roque presented tp delegates a copy of POEA GRB No. 5. Wherein the DFA recommended the ‘ban on the employment of Filipino seafarers on board ships routes to the Gulf of Aden, which recommendation has been “approved’’ by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo with a directive for DoLE to issue implementing guidelines.

As it stands today, the Labor chief announced that under POEA GR. No. 5, which is now a government policy, declares that the deployment of Filipino seafarers on board vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden shall be allowed only under the following conditions:

That shipowners, principals, managers and manning agencies hiring Filipino seafarers ;shall submit appropriate security plans/measures (e.g. security escorts, joining convoys to ‘all’ ships passing through the Gulf of Aden and other known pirate infested areas;

That shipowners, principals, managers through their respective manning agencies shall provide training to their crew on ‘how to avoid’, react and cope with piracy and related incidents.