VP Binay hopes ASEAN seafarer's training will help mariners vs. piracy

By OVP Media
September 24, 2013

MANILA – Vice President Jejomar C. Binay is hopeful that the First Expanded Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Seafarers’ Training - Counter Piracy (EAST-CP) Workshop, which began Monday, will help prepare civilian mariners to respond to acts of piracy.

“I am confident that this seminar/workshop will meet the overall goal of improving the preparedness of our seafarers to threats and consequences of piracy through targeted exposure to education and training in a cooperative approach between ASEAN countries, the United States (US) and representatives of the International Maritime Organization,” the Vice President said as he opened the workshop.

“When I received the request to open this workshop, my reply was an immediate affirmative, for this is the kind of program that reflects the call of my office to secure the welfare of OFWs, including our ever-reliable seafarers,” Binay, the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ Concerns, added.

He said the workshop was organized jointly by the US and the Philippines, pursuant to the 7th East Asia Summit held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia last year, and is the first of its kind to build capacity and promote cooperation on maritime security issues.

The Vice President added that the workshop is modeled after similar initiative of the US and the Philippines made in 2009.

“Now, we have expanded that initiative to include our ASEAN neighbors in the hope that this will ripple across the whole seafaring industry in the region to help improve seafarer preparedness against threats of piracy and possible hostage situations, more so given the fact that most seafarers victimized by piracy are from ASEAN countries,” he said.

“I am especially glad that this seminar/workshop focuses on the psycho-social needs of seafarers in dealing with surviving captivity and other post-capture and release issues,” he added.

Binay said acts of piracy have created new challenges on training and educating seafarers and those who are responsible for their welfare, with maritime schools recognizing that effective education and training are priority agenda in protecting the lives of seafarers.

“I am glad that in preparing our seafarers with counter-piracy measures, we have as partners the US Maritime Administration, the US State Department, the US Mission to ASEAN, and the US Embassy here in Manila headed by His Excellency Harry Thomas, who are all with us today,” he said.