Deployment of Pinoy seafarers grew in September despite COVID-19 pandemic — DOLE

Published October 30, 2020 3:39pm By VIRGIL LOPEZ, GMA News The overseas deployment of Filipino seafarers grew nearly 12% year-on-year in September despite the COVID-19 pandemic that affected industries across the globe, an official of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Friday. A total of 46,049 seafarers were deployed in September compared to 41,179 in the same period last year. “Ang ibig sabihin po nito ay sumisiglang muli ang ating pag-deploy hindi lang ho sa cargo, sa oil, to a certain extent, even the cruise line ay sumisiglang muli,” DOLE Undersecretary Joji Aragon said at the Laging Handa briefing. The Philippines is one of the world’s largest providers of seafarers. On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte urged Congress anew to expedite the passage of a measure that will create a department that will solely address the needs of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). “Ito hong Department of OFW, whichever comes first, whether magkaroon ng separate entity solely devoted to seafarers o magkaroon ng DOFW, one of the principal values and strategic intent ng batas na ito or ng entity na ito ay talagang palakasin ang seafarers,” Aragon said. “Matagal na po itong hinanaing ng ating seafaring industry.” Aragon said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III sent a letter to the Senate on Thursday expressing DOLE’s support for the creation of a new department. The House of Representatives in March approved a bill creating a Department of Filipinos Overseas and Foreign Employment. A counterpart bill is still pending in the Senate. — RSJ, GMA News

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