Elevating Filipino Seafarers: Philippines and Liberia Deepen Maritime Ties

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Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Liberia’s Ministry of Labour are actively pursuing a closer partnership to ensure safe and ethical migration, with particular attention to protecting the rights and welfare of both land-based and sea-based OFWs.
Focus on Maritime Standards and OFW Protection. Philippine Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac met with Liberian officials—including Labour Minister Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah and Liberia Maritime Authority Deputy Commissioner John F. Harvey—to discuss a bilateral labor agreement. Their aim is to enhance labor protection, enforce global maritime labor standards, and improve welfare support for OFWs working on Liberia?flagged vessels and land-based roles.
Strategic and First High-Level Visit. Secretary Cacdac’s visit marks the first by a senior Philippine official to Liberia, signaling Manila’s commitment to deepening labor relations while promoting ethical recruitment and regular migration aligned with President Marcos Jr.’s broader goals.

Filipino seafarers—a global maritime cornerstone. Around 400,000 Filipinos are deployed annually, representing roughly 25% of the world’s 1.6 million seafarers. They are instrumental in facilitating about 90% of global trade by sea, serving as both officers and support crew across various vessel types.
Maritime academies bridging talent and opportunity. Institutions such as the NYK?TDG Maritime Academy (NTMA), Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA), MAAP, and John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University offer high-quality training. NTMA, for instance, ensures maritime education paired with guaranteed employment aboard NYK vessels. These schools help compensate for education system gaps and uplift talent from low-income regions.
Strengths, challenges, and future readiness. Filipino seafarers are admired globally for their English proficiency, professionalism, adaptability, and cheerfulness. However, they face challenges including short-term contracts, long separations, mental health pressures, maritime risks, and the need for continuous up-skilling amid rising automation and digitalization.

Revised Manning Regulations: The Philippine government has implemented significant changes to domestic manning regulations, aiming to enhance the efficiency and safety of maritime operations within the country.
Impact on Local Crewing Practices: These regulatory updates are expected to streamline crewing processes, potentially reducing operational costs and improving the quality of service provided by Filipino seafarers on domestic vessels.
Alignment with International Standards: The overhaul seeks to align domestic manning practices with international maritime standards, ensuring that the Philippines maintains its reputation as a leading provider of qualified maritime personnel globally.