Bongbong wants gov’t to give more support to seafarers

MARIVELES, Bataan– Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on Wednesday claimed that Filipino seafarers are seemingly forgotten and asked government to give them more support. “Government should undertake a policy that is more supportive and that recognizes our seafarers more. Hindi tulad sa ngayon na hindi gaano dahil out of sight, out of mind,” Marcos, a vice-presidential candidate said.

The Ilocos Norte senator said seafarers are apparently not given enough attention because they work far and unnoticed. “Nalilimutan kung minsan kung gaano kahalaga ang ginagawa ng ating mga seafarers, ng ating mga marino,” he said.

Marcos said that government and everybody should remember that there were no Overseas Filipino Workers yet but the seafarers were already helping the country.  “Wala pang OFW, sila OFW na. Maagang-maaga pa bilyun-bilyon na kontribusyon nila sa ating ekonomiya,” he said.

Retired Vice Admiral Eduardo Santos, president of the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific in Mariveles, Bataan, said of the 1.2 million seafarers in the world, 400,000 are Filipinos.

The senator said government should be ready to assist them. Marcos visited MAAP that sits on a 103-hectare land in Alas-Asin, seaside village in Mariveles, where he was given arrival honors. Cadets here are full scholars who are sponsored by big names in European and Japanese shipping companies.