THE country recorded an “all-time high” in the deployment of Filipino seafarers last year, according to Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.
“Noong 2023, naka-all-time high tayo. Lagpas sa limang daang libo kaya’t ang ating demand for maritime seafarers ay patuloy,” Cacdac said at news forum in Quezon City.
He said the number leaves only 30 percent of Filipino seafarers still awaiting deployment.
Earlier, the Maritime Industry Authority of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) reported that the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) has included the Philippines in its “whitelist.”
According to the DOTr, the country was recognized for its “commitment to maintaining high standards in maritime education, training, and certification for Filipino seafarers.”
It added that inclusion in the IMO Whitelist indicates that trained and certified Filipino seafarers meet the rigorous international standards set by the IMO Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping Convention.
IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for the “global standard-setting authority for the safety, security, and environmental performance of international shipping.”
