National Seafarers' Day 2012

The Filipino seafarers are not only major contributors to the country’s economic growth, they are also ‘saint potentials’, thus said  Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle during the 17th National Seafarers' Day (NSD) last  September 30, 2012 .  

 The archbishop was referring to Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Blessed Pedro Calungsod, the soon-to-be second Filipino saint as he noted that  these Philippine Catholic Church’s two martyrs were seafarers and missionaries at the same time before they became saints. He added that Ruiz and Calungsod sailed to other countries and died for a mission: “to teach the Good News.”

 “You should be instruments for what is good work and not of temptations,” he added. “The Filipinos today are sailing everywhere. Bring with you the best of the Filipinos.”

The Philippines is celebrating this week NSD carrying the theme "MARINONG PILIPINO: DAKILA PA RIN ANG KAGITINGAN; One hundred years after the Titanic”. One of the consequences of the sinking, in 1912, of the Titanic, in which 1,503 people lost their lives,  was the adoption, two years later, of the first International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (the SOLAS Convention). The convention  is still in force today, amended and updated many times.

 The NSD theme was patterned after the 2012 Maritime Week theme selected by the of International Maritime Organization (IMO) to pay tribute to all those who, in the course of the 100 years, have contributed to improvements in maritime safety. The celebration also aimed to examine whether the lessons drawn from amongst the most costly (in human lives lost) accidents of the last 100 years have been learnt to the full.

  Under Proclamation No.1049 issued in 1997 by then president Fidel V. Ramos,  the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) was tasked to coordinate with the public and private sector in   activities related to the National Seafarers’ Day during the last Sunday of September every year. The purpose of the Proclamation is to give due recognition to the vital role of Filipino seafarers towards the development of the Philippines as a maritime country. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the other hand, in its Circular No. 1884 dated July 11, 1996, requested all member nations to “celebrate’ World Maritime Day (WMD)during the last week of every September (maritime week) of each year. Consequently, Presidential Proclamation No. 866 dated Sept. 6, 1996 declared Sept. 27, 1996 and the last Friday of September every year, as National Maritime Day (NMD) spearheaded alternatively by the government agencies , to wit Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and  Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

The Philippines is considered as the major supplier of maritime labor globally. Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) data showed that the deployed Filipino seafarers in 2006 (274,497), 2007 (266,553), 2008 (261,614), 2009 (330,424),  2010 (347,150),  and  2011 (400,000) brought in  the dollar remittances that have also  been constantly increasing from US$1.9B in 2006, US$2.2B in 2007 , US$3B in 2008, US$3.4B in 2009, US$3.8B in 2010 to S$4.3B in 2011. On the other hand, the Philippines as a flag State has a registered fleet comprising around 1.4% of total world tonnage.

Given the vast Philippine coast line (twice the size of the United States and nearly three times more than China), Filipinos have natural maritime instincts that place them at an advantage over other nationalities. Foreign shipowners are known to prefer Filipino seafarers for equally important qualities: dedication and discipline, industry, flexibility, loyalty, English language fluency, adaptability, positive work attitude, law-abiding, and problem-solving capability.

For his part, Vice President Jejomar Binay said the government is ensuring that the rights of the Filipino seafarers are protected. He mentioned the recent ratification in the Senate of the Maritime Labor Convention 2006 being pushed by different maritime labor institutions, organizations and even the Church.

 Ironically, the Philippines almost lost its slot on the historical first thirty ratifying countries of the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006 (MLC2006 It took the philippines six years to ratify MLC2006 on August 13, 2012 after it became a signatory of the so called international magna carta for seafarers rights..The convention sets out minimum standards and fair working conditions for seafarers worldwide. Philippines is the thirtieth country to ratify MLC 2006 out of the 314 signatories and one of the of the first thirty ratifying countries required for the convention to take effect. 

 Activities nationwide include the Memorial at Sea, High Mass, Grand Parade, Oratorical/ Art/ Photo Contest, Karaoke challenge, and the Search for Top Ten Outstanding Maritime Students. The Grand Parade from LUSWELF Kalaw to the Philippine Port Authority (PPA) gym  was participated in by more than 4000 stakeholders from maritime schools, government agencies, manning agencies, training centers, maritime organizations, unions, families and private institutions.

See me at 2:30 of this Balitanghali coverage by GMA of the Mass during the offertory in front of VP Binay.

Congratulations to the Top Ten Maritime Students of the Philippines during this year's National Seafarers' Day celebration. I was one of the judges who interviewed the short-listed 34 students from the original 70 plus hopefuls nationwide. After the 10-hour interview with each student giving their best within 15 minutes each, these top ten students were chosen. Some of the questions we asked them:    a) if your boat had an accident and only two are left (you and one of the other hopefuls) will you give him the remaining salbabida? (b) how will you deal with discrimination on board? (c) due to high income, will the "expected compulsory" monetary support to family members cultivate a culture of mendicancy (d) the "utility boy" phenomenom; and (d) sell yourself to a manning agency as a promising future Filipino seafarer. The search was sponsored by Western Union.

Top Ten Maritime Students of the Philippines

Four of the Top Ten Maritime Students of the Philippines during this year's National Seafarers' Day celebration being interviewed live over our radio program Bantay OCW Kabalikat ng Marino last September 27, 2012 . It is aired every thursday. 1230:00 p.m. to 2:00pm Radio Inquirer DZIQ 990AM. Then at 8:00p.m. Friday NBN channel4

Gorecho- Pizzaras-

Benegilda Gorecho + Victor Pizarras

A. Agapito Pizarras + Josefina Kilayko

i: Cerina Pizarras + Leonardo Legaspi

a. Jocelyn Legaspi

ii. Alberto Pizarras + Lolita

a. Junjun

b. Arlyn

iii.Araceli Pizarras + Romeo Herrera

a.Richard

b.Laiza

c. Jimmyton

d. Melanie

e. Roman

B.Marcelo Pizarras + Candelaria

i. . Leonarda

C. Maximino Pizarras + Pilar Lagora

i. Soledad

ii. Rustica Pizarras + Alfredo Alcantara

a. Rolando

b. Reynald

c. Benjie

iii. Nenita

Maximino Pizarras + Juliana Lansaderas (second marriage)

i. Eduardo Pizarras + Marilou

ii. Antonio

iii. Romeo

D.Marciana Pizarras + Daniel Valentos

i.Felipe

ii. Beatriz

iii. Teresita

E.Simplicio Pizarras + Sulipicia Dumagan

i. Edgar Pizarras + Nona Luz Brillantes

a. Sara Jessica

b. Edna Lyn Pizzaras + Patch Mulchand

(Leila Angela)

ii. Ramon Pizarras + Rosalita _____

a. Ritchel Rpy Pizarras + Luchi _______

b. Rosalie Pizarras + Gilbert ____

c. Richwell Pizarras + Aileen ______

(Ramon Victor)

iii. Lilibeth Pizarras + Bobby Echeviria

a. Bridgith

b. Britney

iv. Cely Pizarras + Lito Samar

a. Karl Ian

G. Alejandra Pizarras + Tirso Sagaral

i. Renato

ii. Remedios

iii. Ernesto Sagaral + Dona _____

a. Carla Joy

b. Mico

CYBERCRIME PREVENTION ACT OF 2012: A Restrictive Mindset

STATEMENT OF THE CENTER FOR MEDIA FREEDOM & RESPONSIBILITY

ON THE PASSAGE OF THE CYBERCRIME PREVENTION ACT OF 2012

The successful passage through the legislative mill and their immediate signing into law by President Benigno S. Aquino III of bills affecting the media and their fundamental task of gathering and disseminating  information, among them the Data Privacy Act (Republic Act  10173) last August, and the Cybercrime Prevention Act (RA 10175) this September, suggests how restrictive rather than expansive is the mindset of the country’s legislators, and of Mr. Aquino himself when it comes to enshrining in the law those principles—accountability and transparency, press freedom and free expression, etc.—to which he has repeatedly declared he is committed.

RA 10173 and 10175 breezed through both houses of Congress within months after they had been introduced in 2011, and apparently were in no danger of being vetoed once they reached Mr. Aquino’s desk.

The Data Privacy Act, among other provisions, penalizes those in government who release information of a personal nature, which seems a reasonable enough restriction in behalf of the right to privacy—until one recalls that information on the personal lives of government officials often has a bearing on their performance as public servants accountable to the citizenry, and is therefore among the legitimate concerns of the news media.

The Cybercrime Prevention Act, meanwhile, incorporates the 82-year old libel law in the Revised Penal Code (RPC) in including libel among the crimes that may be committed through the use of computers. Under the provisions of the RPC on libel, the penalty for violators is imprisonment of six months for every count of libel committed. Libel as a criminal offense has been used by past administrations as well as local officials today to harass and intimidate journalists. The outstanding example of its use against journalists was the filing by Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo of 11 libel suits against 46 journalists during the disputed presidency of his wife Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. And yet Congress has through the decades ignored the demand from journalists and human rights groups for the decriminalization of libel.

Compare the speed with which RA 10173 and RA 10175 were passed—in both instances with only perfunctory public hearings—with the difficulties Congress is having with passing a Freedom of Information Act (FOI), and with Mr. Aquino’s by now obvious aversion to it.

And yet certain honorable members of Congress have not been miserly with their lip service to the alleged need for an FOI. As for Mr. Aquino, since he became President he has stopped talking about the need for one, after pledging during the 2010 campaign for the Presidency that he was all for it in behalf of transparency and as a means of insuring government accountability. The bottom line, apparently, is that neither Congress nor Mr. Aquino want an FOI act passed, period.

The passage of the Cybercrime Prevention Act also suggests among other possibilities that both Congress and Mr. Aquino have chosen to ignore the 2011 declaration of the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) that the Philippine libel law is excessive because it penalizes violators with imprisonment, contrary to the human rights protocols to which the Philippines is a signatory, and therefore must at least be reviewed towards decriminalizing libel. Either that, or the authors of the bills, and Mr. Aquino himself, are unfamiliar with both the UNHRC declaration, as well as with the long-standing demand to decriminalize libel in order to put an end to the use of the libel law to intimidate and silence journalists. Apparently there is little hope that libel will ever be decriminalized, RA 10175 having in effect further strengthened it by widening its application.

Finally, a word of caution. RA 10175 is the first law affecting communication through cyberspace that has been passed in this country since the eCommerce Act of 2000. Prior to its passage, the Philippines had been distinguished among its Asian neighbors for the absence of regulatory legislation affecting the Internet. It can signal the opening of the floodgates of Internet regulation that will affect Filipino netizens, given the restrictive mindset of the country’s leaders. It is a distinct possibility to which journalists and bloggers, ordinary citizen and anyone committed to free expression through whatever medium, should be alert, and must be prepared to combat.

Lotto's mandatory contributions

The PCSO is mandated by virtue of a special law to contribute funds for the following government entities: the Philippine Sports Commission, the Commission on Higher Education, the Comprehensive and Integrated Shelter and Urban Development Financing Program, the Philippine Centennial Commission, the National Commission on Indigenous People, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Quirino Memorial Medical Center.

The PCSO allocates to local government units a five percent (5%) share from the total sales of on-line lottery (lotto) outlets operating within their jurisdictions, including a documentary stamp tax from the said donation.

• RA#6847 – Six (6) Sweepstakes Draws as contribution to the Philippine Sports Commission Program
• RA#7722 – 1% of lotto gross sales to the Commission on Higher Education
• RA#7660 – Documentary Stamp Tax – 10% of the gross sales
• RA#7835 – 10% of Charity Fund to the Comprehensive and Integrated Shelter and Urban Development Financing Program (National Shelter Program)
• RA#8042 – Sec.20 and 77 of the Omnibus Rules provides for the appropriation of Php10 million for the Shared Government Information System on Migration (SGISM) under the Department of Foreign Affairs
• RA#8042 – Article IX Section 37 known as the Migrant Workers Act of 1995 – Php 150 million shall be funded from the proceeds of lotto draws taken from the Charity Fund for the Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Fund
• RA#8175 – 10% of net income for the Crop Insurance Program
• RA#8313 – Php100 million from lotto agents for the upgrading of the Quirino Memorial Medial Center
• RA#8371 – Php 50 million contribution to the National Commission on Indegenous Peoples for the Ancestral Domain Find
• RA#8492 – Php 250 million from the annual net earnings from lotto for the Museum Endowment Fund
• RA#9165 – 10% share on forfeited rpizes as special account in the general fund of Dangerous Drugs Board
• E.O.#201 – Php 1 billion Standby Fund for the financial requirement for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) awareness and health promotion campaign
• E.O.#218 – Php 1 billion Standy Fund for the operations and programs of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
• E.O.#280 – Php 250 million standy Fund for the financial requirements of the Avian Influenza or Bird Flu Viruses
• E.O.#357 – 5% Lotto share of local government units from the Charity Fund