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GOV’T SETS SEAFARERS’ SUMMIT
| FACES OF UNCERTAINTY.
Thousands of Filipino seafarers make Luneta Park their hunting ground for
jobs everyday, hoping to “land a berth” in any of the hundreds of manning
agencies using the place as its hunting ground for seafarers. Their number
increases everyday but, it seems, the opportunities are dwindling due to
a host of local and global factors. |
AT LAST or ALAS!
Gov’t initiates first-ever summit to discuss and resolve
problems, issues affecting seafarers
LIKE the proverbial glimmer of light after a raging storm,
the cow that has been bilked and milked for decades finally begins to smell
fresh forage and the sweet scent of molasses. This is what the scheduled
September summit of seafarers hopes to achieve.
The first-ever conference, initiated by the Department
of Foreign Affairs, has, aptly, for its theme, “Pulong-Pulong ng mga Marinong
Pilipino: Pagsulong ng Talino, Kakayahan, at Matatag na Kinabukasan.”
If at all, the hope engendered by this attention from
the government, who, unintentionally or otherwise, has literally shortchanged
billion-dollar-remitting seafarers, may finally break the age-old grungy
treatment seafarers are getting from the very people and institutions sworn
to serve them and who, ironically, benefit from their sweat and blood.
Aside from these local concerns, the summit may also hope
to address a growing threat from the now-awake Dragon.
FULL STORY
>>
UFS SLAMS ORAL EXAMS!
‘Oral examination has no basis in fact and in law.
It would only add to the burden of the already overburned seafarer.’
LEAVE it to PRC to ruin the day!
This pungent deprecation directed at the Professional
Regulation Commission (PRC) was made by UFS president Engr. Nelson P. Ramirez
as he lambasted the regulatory body for its plan to implement oral examinations
for marine officers.
Leading a mammoth rally in front of PRC to voice its opposition
against oral examinations, Ramirez castigated the agency’s officials for
“adding more burden to its already overburdened staff who already have
a sky-high backlog.”
FULL STORY
>>
Mandatory training set for masters,
chief mates set
BEGINNING June 30, masters and chief mates plying the
domestic routes will no longer be allowed to board their ships if they
have not taken the appropriate recurrency training for Safe Navigation
(SAFENAV) and Collision Regulation (COREL).
According to the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA),
the purpose of requiring the masters and chief mates in a recurrency training
is to primarily to boost the safety of life at sea and to increase the
level of readiness of the officers manning the vessels.
FULL STORY
>>
Pirate attacks in Malacca Strait
down due to police patrols ... but getting more violent
PIRATE attacks in the Malacca Strait fell dramatically
last year, thanks to increased patrolling by police, particularly from
Malaysia, according to the International Maritime Bureau.
The IMB’s annual report says only 17 attacks were reported,
against 75 in the previous year. However, the news is not so good in neighboring
Indonesia which continues to record the highest number of attacks – 91
last year. India and Bangladesh were next in line, with 27 and 25 assaults,
respectively.
The worldwide total for last year was 335. While the figure
was down from the peak of 469 recorded the previous year, the IMB says
that the trend since it began collecting statistic more than a decade ago
is still “firmly upwards.”
FULL STORY
>> |
|
NO
BAIL
Court
orders arrest of Mabuhay officials
|
President Arroyo vows support
to seafarers
-NEWS
Seafarers use hi-tech communications
in Holy Week services
By JACK WALSH, MM
Port of Davao
- FEATURES
Show me the money!
- EDITORIAL
Marino: History of Filipino Seamen
(27th in a series of essays)
-HISTORY
Jun Clavecilla wins overall championship
plum at MGAP’s summer golf tourney
- SPORTS
Contribute your ideas online!
Express your opinion!
You can now
any discussion on seafarer's issues anytime or anywhere you are with
Usapang Marino
(Seafarer's Forum)
at URL: http://www.ufs.ph/discus
Want to play
basketball while in Rotterdam?
Filipino Seafarers who want
to play basketball on Sundays in Rotterdam, please contact Doming Malaloan
at Tel. No.: 010-463635 or International Seamen's Centre, Heijplaat, Rotterdam,
Tel. No.: 4290702 |
THE
SEAMAN’S CHURCH INSTITUTE OF NY & NJ
International Seafarers’
Center
118 Export Street, Port
Newark,
New Jersey 07114
TELEPHONE (973) 589-5828
FAX (973) 8565
WE WELCOME YOU!
– MON - FRI 8:30 AM to10
PM
– SATURDAY 4 to10 PM
– SUNDAY 4 to 10 PM
Free Transportation to the
center / Worship service, prayer meetings, and counseling is provided aboard
ship by request, and the Mariner’s Chapel / Cross & Anchor calling
cards – low rates for domestic and international calls ($10 and $20 cards
available) / Books, Bibles, magazines, religious materials, trucker resources,
and used clothing / Postal services (U.S. mail, priority / express mail,
Fedex) available / Money orders and money gram services to all countries
/ Cash remittance to the Philippines / Internet access, email services,
faxes / Sports & Entertainment–large screen TV, ping pong, darts, billiards,
soccer, basketball, and video games / Fitness Center / Shower–no charge
for seafarers / Gift Shop–candy, greeting cards, soda, souvenirs, health
and beauty products, clothing / New Jersey Gardens–the largest outlet mall
in NJ just 15 minutes away / Bus service is available / Balikbayan box
shopping, UPS / Restaurant / Bar–Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Serving the ports of Newark,
Elizabeth, Jersey City, Bayonne, Port Reading, Kearny, Linden, Carteret,
Perth Amboy, Staten Island, and Brooklyn |
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