CEBU CITY - Independent senatorial candidate Ping Lacson listened to the challenges and issues faced by the country’s seafarers in a “Konsultahang Bayan” type of campaign in Cebu on April 28 at the City Sports Club with more than 200 aspiring seafarers and Cebu’s leading maritime industry stakeholders, the United Harbor Pilots Assn. of the Philippines in coordination with Metro Cebu Harbor Pilots Company Incorporated.
The “Konsultahang Bayan” type of campaign is Lacson’s way of gathering specific sector’s concerns such as the maritime industry and the seafarers’ education challenges in the Philippines as his priority legislation to push should he earn a seat in the Senate in May.
"We must look into their plight and see if there is a solution based on legislation that will allow seafarers' parents to afford their training. God willing, if I return to the Senate, I will push for legislation in that direction," Lacson said in an interview with media after the consultation.
He pointed out that that while seafarers remitted some $6.94 billion in 2024 alone, education for those who want to become seafarers have become prohibitive. Their contribution to the Philippine economy cannot be discounted. "So we must help them because their tuition and training fees have become so prohibitive," Lacson added.
The aspiring senatorial candidate noted that demand for seafarers continues to grow, and students have many opportunities to be employed as seafarers. But in the Visayas and Mindanao, the number of students may be declining due to the high costs.
Lacson said that in some cases, parents are using their savings and retirement funds for their children to take maritime courses. Only the rich parents can send their children to maritime school.
Maritime Council of Leaders Adviser, Chief mate Mizrainne Garcia highlighted the challenges faced by shipping companies, crew, and manning agencies in Cebu, with many graduates needing to travel to Manila for job opportunities.
“The high cost of tuition fees and the lack of sufficient maritime schools in the Visayas and Mindanao regions are contributing to the prohibitive costs of maritime education in these regions. A proposed solution is the establishment of a halfway house for students from these regions to stay while studying maritime courses in Manila, which could be subsidized by the government,” Garcia said.
The panel of speakers-- Maritime Council of Leaders Adviser, Chief mate Mizrainne Garcia; President/Chief Pilot Metro Cebu Harbor Pilots, Capt. Frederick Quiñones; United Harbor Pilot of the Philippines President, Capt. Arnold Labadan; President of Interisland Shipping, Lucio Lim and Association of International Shipping lines Ports operations Committee Chairman, Rene Ledesma acknowledged the need for more local maritime education options to support the industry's workforce development.
The panelists suggested action Items include--the establishment of a "halfway house" or subsidized accommodation for students from the Visayas and Mindanao regions to stay while studying maritime courses in Manila or elsewhere; increase the number of maritime schools in the Visayas and Mindanao regions and Subsidize the tuition fees for maritime courses to make them more affordable.
“We have lots and lots of work to do. When I am elected to the Senate, I assure you this will be one of my priority measures,” Lacson said.
He added that he would study possible solutions to issues raised by the stakeholders at the forum cum consultation including setting up government-subsidized halfway houses for student seafarers from the Visayas and Mindanao, as there are not enough maritime schools there.
The panelists discussion revolved
around the importance of maritime education and the challenges faced by
maritime students in the Philippines, noting the high cost of maritime courses
and the need for government support to make them accessible to students from
poor backgrounds.
Capt. Frederick Quiñones emphasized the significant economic impact of Filipino seafarers, noting that 80% of Philippine trade is seaborne and that seafarers contribute $8-9 billion annually to the economy.
Lucio Lim and Rene Ledesma represent a shipping group that supports maritime education and employs a high percentage of graduates, despite the industry's challenges. They underscored the need for government policies to support maritime education and the development of future seafarers. (Photos: MBCNewman)
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