VP Binay assures
Filipino seafarers of support
By OVP Media
April
16, 2012
MANILA – Vice
President Jejomar C. Binay today reiterated the government’s
commitment to uphold and protect the rights and welfare of Filipino
seafarers.
“Bilang Presidential
Adviser for Overseas Filipino Workers’ Concerns, tinitiyak ko po sa
inyo na ang administrasyon ni Pangulong Aquino ay hindi nakakaramdam
ng pagod pagdating sa kapakanan ng ating mga tripolante,” Binay said
in a speech during the blessing and inauguration of the JSU-AMOSUP
Maritime Museum and Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.
Binay cited different
government programs like the Value Formation Seminars that help
families deal with the absence or temporary separation from a family
member. The program also offers psycho-social counseling and stress
debriefing to help families whose members are stranded seafarers or
victims of piracy and other sea disasters.
“Batid din po natin na
ang sahod ng isang tripolante ay katas ng matinding pagod at
paghihirap. Kaya naman upang tulungan silang mapalago ang kanilang
inipon, nariyan ang ating Entrepreneurship Development Training
program,” Binay said.
“Dito po tinuturo ang
mga mahahalagang kaalaman sa pagtayo at pagpapatakbo ng negosyo.
Kasama na rito ang pagbalangkas ng isang maayos na business plan,” he
added.
Binay also stressed
the importance of the OFW Family Circle program of the Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration. Through this program, the families and
dependents of seafarers are organized to expand OWWA’s reach in the
delivery of its programs and services.
He said these meetings
also serve as a venue and opportunity for families to share
experiences and draw lessons from experiences of others. This provides
invaluable support to families who need added strength to cope with
their separation from a loved one at sea.
“Upang matiyak na ang
ating mga programa ay laging angkop sa pangangailangan ng ating mga
mandaragat, tuloy-tuloy po ang mga ating konsultasyon sa mga pamilya
ng mga tripolante, kasama po ang kanilang mga anak. Sa sama-sama
nating pagtimon, tiyak na magiging maayos ang ating paglalakbay,”
Binay added.
Binay said that the
Philippines has become the “crewing capital of the world” and at any
given time, there are about 300,000 Filipinos at sea all over the
world.
According to the Vice
President, Filipinos comprise 30% of the 1.25 million people working
on ships.
“Our seafarers have
lent so much strength to their homeland’s prosperity. They unfailingly
contribute more than a billion dollars to our economy,” Binay said.
“Last year alone,
their remittances stood at an astonishing $3.8 billion and it appears
these figures will rise even further in the coming years,” he added.