As the 2019 midterm elections is drawing near, it is timely that we take a closer look on our sector’s candidates in Congress. It is though the Partylist system that different sectors in the country can be represented. As for the maritime community, there are two candidates to choose for. The question is, who should represent Filipino seafarers voice in Congress?
After researching about the two, I have complied it all here. Side by side, you can examine their plans and advocacies including their partylist profiles. This is the first time that we have two partylists vying to represent us in Congress.
A kind reminder though, do your duty as a citizen of this country and be careful on who to choose. As your choice will not only be for you, but for our entire community including our families as well.
It is good that now, we have two candidates to choose for. As in previous two elections, we only had one. So this makes it interesting. One is a classic Maniliño, the other hails from Mindanao, a known bailiwick of the current administration.
MARINO – Marino Samahan ng mga Seaman, Inc.
MARINO Partylist is a newcomer in politics and looks to have a seat in the lower house for the first time. Backed by Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy, MARINO partylist sure have the resources to compete in a national level.
ESTABLISHED: February 14, 2014
BRIEF HISTORY: Based in Davao City, MARINO Partylist formed by seafarers and stakeholders from the maritime community mostly in Mindanao. They are pursuing advocacies that aims to make significant and meaningful changes and reforms in the maritime industry.
ADVOCACIES: MARINO will promote programs and pass legislations for the welfare of the seafarers, their families and dependents, as well as stakeholders in the maritime industry and maritime education industry. Among the advocacies it will do are the following:
1. Make linkages with companies and the government in order to provide scholarships to many generations of seafarers;
2. Extend assistance and guidance to seafarer’s families, dependents and stakeholders in the maritime industry (e.g. establishing family centers for their families left in the country);
3. Provide trainings for the improvement of the skills of the seafarers in the whole country;
4. Advocate the seafarers’ rights, by providing them with free legal services; and
5. Decentralization of processing of licenses and accessibility to trainings (e.g. establishing centers in Visayas and Mindanao)
CAUSE: MARINO has noticed that despite the fact that the seafarers has contributed a sizable amount of remittances to the government, thereby helping its economy, the necessary programs and laws to protect their interests have not been mainly considered. While there are indeed some legislations passed, they however did not reflect or manifest the true sentiments of the seafarers as a whole. The genuine concerns of the seafarers, especially those from Visayas and Mindanao are also not given priority, since laws and programs passed tend to only benefit those from the capital region (e.g. those from Mindanao, of which the members of MARINO came from, always have a complaint of having difficulties in accessing national trainings, opportunities, renewal of license, etc., which can only be done in Metro Manila). – From Official MARINO Partylist FB Page
PRIMARY NOMINEE: Carlo Lisandro Gonzales – Tapa King Vice President and owner of Ulticon Builders, Inc. (UBI). A Triple A contractor according to their company profile.
NOTABLE ENDORSEMENTS: Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) Party, Presidential Son and Davao City Vice Mayoralty Candidate Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, Cebu Gems Founder and CEO Capt. Juan Antoine dela Torre.
FURTHER READING: MARINO Partylist Official Facebok Page
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Angkla: Ang Partido ng mga Pilipinong Marino, Inc.
We actually have had our first representative in Congress since 2013. ANGKLA Partylist being the sole candidate for the maritime sector during the 2013 midterm elections. They won again for the second time in the 2016 national elections and this time, ANGKLA seeks to win for the third term.
It is far easier to present ANGKLA’s profile since they already served in Congress. However, this does not guarantee anything and it is up to the people concerned if they are satisfied with ANGKLA’s performance.
ESTABLISHED: 2011
BRIEF HISTORY: Founded in 2011 and run for congressional seat in 2013 under Partylist name, ANGKLA and won. For 2 consecutive terms, ANGKLA serves as the only representative of the maritime community in Congress and helped in MARINA’s efforts to reach stakeholders in the countryside through decentralization of its functions and services, promotion of seafarer’s welfare, education and training,etc.
ADVOCACIES: ANGKLA, throughout its founding, has been steadily fulfilling its so-called Five Point Agenda that responds to the needs and concerns of the seafarers, their families, and friends and the entire maritime industry. Here are the following:
- Protects seafarer’s livelihood;
- Coordinated with various government agencies;
- Creation of a Maritime High School in 3 pilot areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao;
- Heighten awareness on seafarers’ contribution to the country; and
- Spearhead seafarers’ participation in government.
PRIMARY NOMINEE: Rep. Jesulito Manalo, son of a ship captain and a maritime lawyer. Chairman of House Overseas Workers Affairs (OWWA), Congressional Globalization and World Trade Organization Special Committee.
NOTABLE ENDORSEMENTS: Joint Manning Group (JMG), Filipino Shipowners Association (FSA), Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SONAME)
LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENTS DURING STINT IN CONGRESS:
Principal Author of the following laws: RA10635 – An Act Establishing MARINA as the Single Maritime Administration, RA10668 – Amendments to the Philippine Cabotage Law, RA10698 – The Naval Architecture Modernization Law; and RA10706 – The Seafarers’ Protection Act or Anti Ambulance-Chaser Bill.
Total Authored: 128, Total Co-authored: 78. Read more about ANGKLA’s legislative performance in Congress here.
Helped in planning, constructing and funding a total of Php 480-million in the new MARINA Central Office building and MARINA’s Regional Offices in Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Legazpi.
Allocated 17M for 1,700 enrollees in maritime training programs from 2014-2018 via CHED and DSWD.
Furthermore, these are ANGKLA’s some accomplishments in a nutshell:
FURTHER READING: ANGKLA Website, ANGKLA Official Facebook Page
Final Thoughts…
Have I helped you make a decision on who should represent Filipino seafarers voice in Congress? I do hope I had given you a clear and concise input on the matter. It is good to know all these things. I never knew both these partylist groups until I had the chance to research about their cause, plans and advocacies.
Lastly, never waste this opportunity to make your choice. If you aren’t able to vote, then let your immediate families do. Inform them, feed them with credible information. They too are directly affected by the outcome of this elections.
This is our chance to be noticed, heard and represented, so make it count.