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Gov't urged to support maritime sector, reduce hiring fees: stakeholder

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Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Foreign tourists from the Silver Spirit cruise ship are given a Philippine Fiesta-themed welcome as they arrive at the Eva Macapagal Super Terminal in Manila on Feb. 15, 2023. The event marks the restart of cruise tourism in the country after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Department of Tourism. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/business/02/17/20230215-cruise-tourists-dot-1md_1458_1-md.jpg"/><figcaption>Foreign tourists from the Silver Spirit cruise ship are given a Philippine Fiesta-themed welcome as they arrive at the Eva Macapagal Super Terminal in Manila on Feb. 15, 2023. The event marks the restart of cruise tourism in the country after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Department of Tourism. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - The government must explore ways to reduce fees paid by foreign shipping firms when hiring Filipino seafarers to avoid a decline in employment numbers, a stakeholder said on Friday.</p><p>Hiring Filipino seafarers has become more expensive, said WMOC President and CEO Rachelle Lopez said, who also organized the recent Expo Maritime Philippines 2023.</p><p>She said aside from Filipinos, foreign shipping lines are now looking at other nationalities as crew members since hiring Filipino seafarers has become a bigger investment for companies due to high expenses. </p><p>Expenses include fees, permits and tests that need to be paid, she said, adding that the potential employment decline is based on her observations and that there is no data available yet.</p><p>&quot;To tell you honestly, sobrang nagkakaroon na tayo ng decrease of numbers in employing seafarers. There are some principals na inaayawan ng mga Filipino seafarers kasi namamahalan sila,&quot; Lopez said.</p><p>(We are having a decrease in numbers employing seafarers. There are some principals who are avoiding Filipino seafarers since its more expensive)</p><p>&quot;Kailangan lang talaga natin tutukan, kailangan natin tingnan ano pa ba yung pwedeng tanggaling mga fees doon para maging marketable ulit ang mga Filipino seafarers,&quot; she said.</p><p>(We need to focus on looking at reducing the fees)</p><p>For example, a crew change of 21 to 22 people in Manila would cost shipping companies about a million pesos, but firms pay a smaller amount in other countries like Singapore, Lopez said.</p><p>Lopez said the government should also support the maritime sector by collaborating in the reduction of fees, improving training, and procuring additional vessels for training.</p><p>The European Commission is set to release its order to recognize or not the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping of the Philippines. </p><p>If it finds the local standards unfavorable, the jobs of about 50,000 Filipino seafarers on European vessels may be at risk.</p><p>&quot;Standardization ng training. Magkaroon ng collaboration ang maritime sector at the same time ating gobyerno. Kailangan na natin ng tulong,&quot; Lopez said.</p><p>(There should be standardization of training. At the same time, the maritime sector should collaborate with the government. We need help.)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/10/23/22/ph-working-to-keep-pinoy-seafarers-jobs-in-eu-dotr">Gov&#x27;t working to keep Filipino seafarers&#x27; jobs in EU, says Transport dept</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/09/23/house-panel-oks-proposed-magna-carta-of-filipino-seafarers">House panel OKs proposed magna carta of Filipino seafarers</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/27/22/philippines-400000-seafarers-at-risk-of-sailing-ban">Philippines: 400,000 seafarers at risk of sailing ban</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2470945" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

The government must explore ways to reduce fees paid by foreign firms when hiring Filipino seafarers to avoid a cut in employment, a stakeholder said.

Gov't urged to support maritime sector, reduce hiring fees: stakeholder

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Gov't urged to support maritime sector, reduce hiring fees: stakeholder

Jekki Pascual,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 17, 2023 05:02 PM PHT

Read More:

seafarer

maritime industry

seamen

hiring

cruise ship

Expo Maritime Philippines 2023

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