Election season in the Philippines is here with us and just like in 2019, MARINO and ANGKLA will square off to represent the maritime sector. They will once again try to court us with our votes come May 9th.
Representing the maritime sector in Congress is vital as challenges faced by the maritime sector needs all help it can get. Not only we’re suffering from Covid-19 pandemic, we will also brace for the impact of Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Will MARINO keep the seat?
MARINO secured 2 seats as it won in 2019 midterm elections with a total votes of 677, 448 or 2.45% of the total votes landing it in 7th spot in partylist elections result.
Nominees: Hon. Sandro Gonzales, Hon. Carl Castelo
They filed their candidacy on October 7, 2021 and hope to keep the seat for another 3 years. Since MARINO has served us for the last 3 years, we can evaluate what they have accomplish. Let’s take a look:
- principal authors of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers (HB 8057)
- instrumental in securing the prioritization of seafarers in the government’s vaccination program against COVID-19 after successfully lobbying the IATF to elevate their status from B3 (other essential workers) or B5 (OFWs) to A4 (frontline personnel)
- Raising Pinoy seafarers’ vaccination category from B3 and B5 to A4, and then finally to A1 category
- Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers (now at the Senate)
- Department of Overseas Filipinos Act of 2019
- Maritime Safety, Security, and Prevention of Ship-Sourced Pollution Act of the Philippines
- Mandatory OFW Health Immunization Act
- Unhampered Crew Change Act
- Overseas Filipino Workers Remittance Protection Act
Furthermore, they advocated or initiated financial literacy, low cost housing for Filipino seafarers, among others. One can ask for assistance from Marino Action Center via Facebook or at [email protected]. What assistance you can ask? Here are some:
If you want more information about what they do or what they have done, you can visit their website at marino.org.ph or their FB page at Marino Partylist.
RELATED: MARINO vs ANGKLA: Who should represent Filipino seafarers voice in Congress?
Will ANGKLA reclaim the seat?
Only the voters can decide if ANGKLA will reclaim the seat they once served. There were 179, 588 votes for ANGKLA in the 2019 midterm elections.
Nominees: Hon. Jess Manalo
ANGKLA filed its candidacy on October 5, 2021. Served 2 terms in 2013 and 2016, it seeks to serve for the 3rd term this 2022 national elections.
In our previous blog about ANGKLA, we have stated there some of the accomplishments during their term. In a more recent FB Live with host Kuya Sead with Capt. Edgardo Flores, Hon. Jess Manalo lay out what the partylist have done in those 6 years.
You can visit their FB page at ANGKLA Partylist or their website at angklapartylist.org for further reading about their initiatives and advocacies.
Let’s see some of that accomplishment as screen grabbed from the live feed:
You will completely understand ANGKLA’s performance and advocacies by watching this live video:
Decision
Do you already have a bet come May 9 elections for our partylist representative? Do you think Marino Partylist deserves a second chance or will ANGKLA be elected once more?Marino vs Angkla. We need to choose only one. Choose wisely.
You can get further reading or information by visiting their respective websites and social media pages.
It is important that we have a voice in Congress nevertheless. It is because we want someone in there to help us from the challenges that we could not normally solve. The one that can help us easing what is already a burden. Supports us during difficult times.
In addition, they need to collectively promote, enhance and improve the overall condition of all maritime stakeholders, industries and the like including welfare of employees, their families who depends on the maritime industry.