Manning agencies seek govt help in setting crew wages

Some manning agencies have asked the government to be proactive in helping the manning industry preserve jobs for Filipino seafarers amid the pandemic that caused the industry to lose a sizable number of jobs to seafarers from other countries.

Cristina Garcia, president of the Association of Licensed Manning Agencies (ALMA) Maritime Group, and lawyer Iris Baguilat, co-founder of the group, took turns in explaining their position that the government has to respond to the massive loss of Filipino seafarers’ jobs on the international fleet.