No OFW deployment ban to Somalia—labor chief

MANILA, Philippines—There is no need to ban the deployment of Filipino seafarers to foreign-flagged ships passing by the pirate-infested waters of Somalia because effective interventions are in place, the labor department said in a statement e-mailed to media outfits.

This is in contrast to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) recommendation for a total ban on such deployment.

“We do not recommend the banning of our Filipino seafarers from working in foreign vessels that ply pirate-infested waters in Somalia as interventions on how to deal with the piracy problem have been identified during the anti-piracy summit,” said Labor Secretary Marianito Roque.

He noted that the proposed ban would result in Filipino seafarers losing their jobs which would affect their families as well as the Philippine seafaring industry and the economy.

The issues identified by the DFA in its recommendation are being addressed in the implementation of a joint communiqué or agreement forged between the labor department and seafarers groups, manning and shipping sectors, the International Labor Organization, and the International Maritime Organization.

Roque said the communiqué was signed during the Anti-Piracy Summit for Filipino Seafarers held last January 8 at the Amosup Seamen’s Center in Intramuros, Manila.

As provided for by the joint communiqué, three measures are now being implemented for the protection of the Filipino seafarers against sea piracy covering the formulation of anti-piracy regulations, and the conduct of anti-piracy training and psycho-social counseling for seafarers.

Roque said that more than 200 agencies out of 350 manning firms have already submitted their anti-piracy training modules to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). The final approval of the said modules will be based on the standard training module which the POEA is preparing in coordination with the Maritime Training Center (MTC).

Based on the POEA Memorandum Circular 02, Series of 2010, “all manning agencies must require seafarers to undergo training on practical measures to avoid, deter, or delay piracy/ attacks prior to deployment.” The anti-piracy training is separate and in addition to the regular pre-departure orientation seminar (PDOS) conducted for departing seafarers. In addition, manning agencies will have to submit to POEA a list of all the trainees each month indicating the name, date of training, and name of company.

Aside from the anti-piracy training, the POEA has also approved a resolution allowing the deployment of Filipino seafarers on board vessels transiting in pirate-infested areas provided that the ship owners, principals, managers, or manning agencies will ensure that the vessel will pass within the maritime security patrol area.

The ship owner and manning agencies will also submit appropriate security measures such as security escorts or joining convoy to all ships passing through known pirate-infested areas.

Meanwhile, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration is providing psycho-social counseling and other support services for families and their kin who could become victims of piracy. - INQUIRER.net, February 14, 2010