WHEREAS, member countries of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have been employing Filipino seafarers onboard ships registered under their flag;

WHEREAS, there is an estimated 193,000 Filipino seafarers employed on ocean-going ships of various flag registers;

WHEREAS, Regulation I/10 of the STCW Convention, as amended, prescribes that before each Administration recognizes a certificate issued by or under the authority of another Party to a Master, Officer or Radio Officer, it confirms through all necessary measures, which may include inspection of facilities and procedures, that the requirements concerning standards of competence, the issue and endorsement of certificates and record keeping are fully complied with;

WHEREAS, there is now an urgent need to establish administrative arrangements in the recognition of certificates of Filipino Masters, Officers and Radio Officers by major employing flag states in order to ensure the continuity of employment of Filipino seafarers overseas;

WHEREAS, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration is mandated to promote and regulate the employment of Filipino seafarers onboard ocean-going vessels;

BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved, by the Maritime Training Council (MTC) that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the private and other concerned sectors shall initiate the conduct of bilateral/ labor agreements with major employing flag states with the objective of promoting and ensuring the continuity of employment of Filipino seafarers.

Be it further resolved that the POEA shall submit periodic reports to the Council on the progress of its bilateral negotiations with major employing flag states.

APPROVED:

(SGD.) BIENVENIDO E. LAGUESMA
Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment
and Chairman, Maritime Training Council

(SGD.) HERMOGENES P. POBRE
Chairman, Professional Regulation Commission

(SGD.) REYNALDO A. REGALADO
Administrator, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration

(SGD.) ELEUTERIO N. GARDINER
Administrator, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration

(SGD.) MANUEL I. DE LEON
Commandant, Philippine Coast Guard

(SGD.) ANGEL C. ALCALA
Chairman, Commission on Higher Education

(SGD.) VICENTE F. ALDANESE, JR.
Private Sector Representative
(Filipino Association for Mariners Employment)

(SGD.) GREGORIO S. OCA
Private Sector Representative
(Associated Marine Officers and Seamen ™s Union of the Philippines)