Instead of spending time with their families while on vacation after months of duty, Filipino seafarers–such as marine engineers and deck officers say their vacation is consumed by physically attending refresher training courses.
This concern was raised by several vacationing Maritime Officers to Senator Erwin Tulfo, who promptly relayed to Senator Raffy Tulfo, Chairman of the Senate Committees on Public Services and Migrant Workers.
Erwin Tulfo then vowed to file a Resolution urging the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) led by Administrator Sonia Malaluan and the Department of Migrant Workers headed by Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac to review the conduct of training courses with the end in view of implementing online refresher courses to lighten the load of Filipino seafarers.
“Seafarers are requesting that the refresher courses be made available online instead of requiring them to attend school in person every day every time they are off duty.”
According to the legislator, “These seafarers are requesting that the refresher courses be made available online instead of requiring them to attend school in person every day every time they are off duty.”
“They also mentioned the daily costs of transportation, fuel, and meals–on top of the fact that they don’t get to spend time with their families,” the lawmaker added.
These refresher courses can take up much time including the travel of seafarers to training centers.
“The real question here is why do they still need to physically go to school when these are just refresher or management courses that could be done online?” the neophyte senator further asked.
Senator Raffy Tulfo expressed agreement with the complaints of the seafarers.
“Instead of spending their vacation with their loved ones, they’re stuck in school.”
According to Sen. Raffy, “instead of spending their vacation with their loved ones, they’re stuck in school… it’s unfair to them.”
“These courses used to be allowed online. Why were the rules changed?” he further questioned.
