The country’s manning agencies and seafarer groups have asked President Rodrigo Duterte to prioritize the seafarers in the administration’s coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination program.

Lawyer Iris Baguilat, President of Döhle Seafront, a member company of the Association of Licensed Manning Agencies (ALMA) Maritime Group said ALMA together with other seafarer unions have lauded the Duterte administration’s procurement of the COVID-19 vaccines and asked the seafarers be included in the priority list.