IMO SG Lim (3rd from left) meets members of the Philippine participants in the workshop Justice Noel Tijam (1st, left), Permanent Representative to IMO Gilberto Asuque (2nd, left) and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II (4th, left)
23 June 2017, London – Secretary-General Kitack Lim of the International Maritime Organization has commended the Philippines for its “exemplary” policy, system and administrative structure to promote and protect the welfare of Filipino seafarers especially in the event of a marine casualty.
Secretary-General Lim complimented the Philippine program for seafarers during the call of the Philippine participants to the International Workshop on the Fair Treatment of Seafarers held on 23 June 2017 at the IMO Headquarters, London. The workshop was hosted by IMO and organized by the International Transport Workers Federation and the Seafarers’ Rights International to promote global awareness in the application of the IMO Guidance for the Fair Treatment of Seafarers in the Event of a Maritime Accident.
The Philippine participants in the workshop were Supreme Court Associate Justice Noel G. Tijam; Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II; DOJ Undersecretary Erickson Balmes; DOLE Undersecretary Claro A. Arellano; Gilberto Asuque, Permanent Representative to IMO; Mrs. Maria Cecilia Tijam, Judicial Staff Head of Justice Tijam; Mr. Arsenio Lingad, Maritime Attache, MARINA; Capt. Eustacio Nimrod P. Enriquez, Technical Adviser, PCG, and Atty. Jabeth Sena Jepath Dacanay.
The workshop was an opportunity for the Philippines to discuss in an international forum the laws and regulations that govern the work of public officials especially those in the DOJ, DOLE and DFA in promoting and protecting the rights and welfare of Filipino seafarers particularly those in distress.
Justice Secretary Aguirre (photo above) delivered a statement on the policy of the Philippines on the protection of seafarers and on the compliance with IMO conventions especially on the STCW Convention. He discussed the programs of the DOJ in improving expertise on the investigation of maritime accidents and the prosecution of individuals liable for the casualty both on persons and the environment. Secretary Aguirre noted the importance of the IMO Guidelines On Fair Treatment Of Seafarers in the Event of a Maritime Accident and the Code of the International Standards and Recommended Practices for a Safety Investigation into a Marine Casualty or Marine Incident (Casualty Investigation Code), which were discussed during the workshop, and expressed interest for any technical assistance to train DOJ personnel in the implementation of the Code.
DOLE Undersecretary Arellano (photo above) also delivered a statement on the programs of DOLE for the proper recruitment and deployment of Filipino seafarers, the updating of the Seafarers Employment Contract, enforcement of the seafarers contract, and the policy and administrative structure to assist seafarers in maritime accidents, in cases of abandonment by the shipowner, and in the filing of claims. Noting that the Philippines is one of the world’s major source of manpower for the shipping industry, Undersecretary Arellano assured the international shipping community that the Philippines will continue to work with its partners to protect the interest of the Filipino seafarers and ensure the continued development of their skills and expertise in the seafaring profession.
Justice Tijam (2nd from right photo, below) participated in a panel discussion on the IMO Guidelines on fair treatment of seafarers in the event of a maritime accident. He stressed the important role of courts in the fair resolution of cases or disputes concerning seafarers in the event of a maritime incident or payment of crew claims.
