MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday assured Japanese transport corporations that his administration would proceed to work intently with them to make sure a prepared pool of highly-skilled Filipino seafarers required by Japanese maritime corporations.
“The JSA (Japanese Shipowners’ Association) has the assurance of the Philippine government that we will continue to work together as a team, as partners in ensuring that your requirements for more seafarers shall be met because clearly you care for them very much and they are in good hands while under your employment,” Marcos stated throughout a gathering with chief government officers of Japanese transport corporations in Tokyo, Japan.
He stated the Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW) current creation of an International Advisory Committee on Global Maritime Affairs reveals how necessary Filipino seafarers are to each the home and worldwide labor markets.
Marcos additionally bared that DMW Secretary Susan Ople would set up a Japan desk on the Office of the Secretary to make sure sooner communication and coordination between Japanese shipowners and land-based employers with the administration.
He stated the DMW, the Department of Transportation, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Maritime Industry Authority have been receiving direct steerage from the Office of the President on the right way to enhance the competitiveness of Filipino seafarers and enhance their maritime training and expertise coaching.
Meanwhile, Marcos thanked Japanese shipowners for his or her investments in maritime coaching faculties positioned within the provinces of Laguna and Bataan, recording 1,200 cadets per college per yr.
He stated the hiring of Filipino cadets by Japanese shipowners ensures the sustainability of the nation’s manpower useful resource pipeline.
“We welcome and look forward to these training investments from the JSA,” Marcos stated, expressing hope that different worldwide transport associations would observe go well with.
JSA president and Mitsui OSK Lines chairperson Junichiro Ikeda, in the meantime, assured the Philippines that they might proceed to rent Filipino seafarers to function their ships safely.
“The Filipino seafarers play a big role. So having all said, Filipino seafarers are essential to the Japanese shipping industry. And so, we sincerely and strongly hope that there will continue to be a steady supply of professional and well-trained Filipino seafarers to work alongside us,” Ikeda stated.
He stated the JSA was looking for the President’s assist and assurance for the regular provide of Filipino seafarers.
Ikeda stated he anticipated the standard normal of Filipino seafarers to proceed to enhance, citing the Philippine authorities’s steady efforts to improve their expertise.
He additionally thanked the Philippine authorities for supporting the “very successful” operation of Japan-backed maritime coaching faculties and amenities within the nation.
He famous that Japanese transport corporations make use of numerous Filipino seafarers as a result of they’re thought to be “very much high-quality seafarers.”
Government information confirmed that about 75 p.c of the crew of Japanese ocean-going vessels encompass Filipino seafarers.
An common of 6,600 Filipino seafarers per yr are deployed to vessels with the Japanese Flag of Registry previously 10 years. (PNA)