President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. on Monday reiterated his directive to the Maritime Sector Authority (Marina) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to cooperate closely with the shipping sector on the upskilling and reskilling of seafarers.
In his keynote during the Seafarer 2050 Conference at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City, Marcos emphasized the necessity of investing in highly educated and well-trained personnel for the shipping sector as the demand for Filipino seafarers is likely to increase by 2050.
He stressed the significance of identifying capabilities for the next generation of ships, debating education and training requirements, and committing to a fair and just transition for a resilient and future-ready maritime industry.
Marcos stated that the whole transportation industry, including shipping, is undergoing a massive transformation characterized by the introduction of new and sustainable fuels as well as the increased use of digitization and automation.
The President requested that Marina and CHED prepare Filipino sailors for the transition of ocean-going vessels from traditional fuel sources to green ammonia between 2030 and 2040 as part of the government's upskilling and reskilling initiative.
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople, who also attended the conference, predicted that demand for Filipino seafarers would return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year.
Ople said that seafarer deployment fell from more than 505,000 in 2019 to 270,000 in 2020.
According to the DMW Chief, seafarer deployments will reach over 490,000 by 2022.
As part of the "Day of Seafarers" celebration, DMW said it will organize a job fair, especially for Filipino seafarers on June 28.
According to the DMW, around 27 staffing companies will participate in the job fair, offering an estimated 1,500 positions.
Interested candidates should go to the DMW offices in Mandaluyong City.
Meanwhile, the Marina launched an online search on Monday for this year's "Exceptional Bravery at Sea Awardees."
Nominees may be supported by licensed manning agencies, shipping firms, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental maritime groups, or other lawful supporters.
The agency noted that nominations must be submitted by August 11.
