Starting this month, all the estimated 260,000 Filipino seafarers will start to undergo anti-piracy training to prepare and help them survive in case they are abducted by pirates in the high seas.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito Roque said the mandatory training will be provided for free by all manning agencies, who earlier agreed with the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) to pattern the module with that of the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners.

“Regardless if they are old or new sailors, they have to participate in the training starting Jan. 15. The goal is to prevent, avoid, escape and survive piracy,’’ said Roque.

“They could not be deployed overseas unless they take the module and receive a certification from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA),’’ he added.

Roque said the move to step up efforts to protect Filipino seafarers was due to the alarming increase in hijacking incidents in Somali waters and the Gulf of Aden in 2009.

Data from the International Maritime Bureau showed that incidents of attacks between January and September 2009 increased to 306, surpassing the 293 incidents recorded throughout 2008.

Currently, 68 Filipinos are still locked up in six vessels that are being held hostage by the Somali pirates, the DoLE reported.

In an earlier tripartite meeting, Roque said he told the Maritime industry to change their route as the problem in the Gulf is expected to reach unreasonable proportions.

He also disclosed DoLE’s plans to give psycho-social counseling, emergency financial assistance and other support services to families of abducted seafarers.

Roque said the Philippine government will see to it that all manning agencies and shipping owners comply with the rules set in the POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 5 s. 2009 to ensure the safety of seafarers on board shipping vessels.

Moreover, Roque said the Philippines will be the first country to implement the module although it has been introduced in some countries years back.

The International Maritime Employers Committee (IMEC) based in London has recommended that countries all over the world replicate the training as a requirement for deployment of all seafarers.

The training will also serve as a preliminary to a bigger conference for all manning agencies on April 8 this year.

The DoLE chief reiterated that the cost of the training could not be passed on to the sailors, adding the department will sanction agencies that violate the agreement.

Filipino mariners comprise a third of the world’s shipping manpower requirement or an estimated 350, 000 seafarers. They remitted a record $2.5 billion for the first nine months of 2009 despite the threat of kidnappings.