Photo: Marcus Hand
The Philippines status as the world’s largest supplier of seafarers to international shipping took a huge hit in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic caused extended lockdowns and border closures, and the resulting crew change crisis.
According to Philippines Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) figures published by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) of the Philippines the total number of seafarers deployed overseas from the country dropped 54% in 2020 to 217,223, compared 469,996 in 2019.
The sharp drop in numbers deployed to international shipping was across all ranks officers and cadets, but the fall was largest in the non-maritime sector which provides hotel staff to cruise ships, a growth area for the Philippines crewing industry in recent years.
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+ June 06, 2021 MORE exporters and shippers have joined calls for the government to step in and address the current maritime transport issues, including vessel capacity constraints and surging freight prices, which are leading to cargo delays and revenue setbacks.
After the processed food and fresh food exporters, garment and furniture exporters have taken their turn to express frustration and ask for help with the deteriorating container shipping situation in the Philippines.
Robert Young, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) trustee for the textile sector and president of the Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines (Fobap), said the garment industry is incurring millions of dollars in losses due to the supply chain squeeze.
A health worker inoculates a woman with China s Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine at a drive-thru vaccination site in Manila, Philippines on May 7, 2021. - AP
MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN): The government is ramping up measures to block the entry of the Indian variant of the coronavirus that is believed to be killing tens of thousands daily during the current surge in Covid-19 cases in the South Asian country, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
Under new guidelines issued by the government’s pandemic managers, all Filipino and foreign travellers arriving in the country starting on Friday (May 7) this week will be required to spend the first 10 days of a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a government accredited facility.
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Photo from Marina May 03, 2021 THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) is mourning the loss of Captain Rommel John Mendoza, director II of Marina Regional Office in Tacloban City, who died on Sunday, May 2, 2021. He was 55.
“The Marina is eternally grateful for his significant contributions to the maritime industry. His zeal and enthusiasm in the workplace will be sorely missed. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family, his bereaved loved ones, and colleagues,” Marina said in a statement.
Before joining Marina, Mendoza, who belonged to the Class of 1993 of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) as part of the Maalab Class of 1993, also served the country during his stint in Philippine Navy and in the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Force as part of the Philippine contingent.