THE Senate deliberations on the draft Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers continue to bring out the gaps and inadequacies in the existing laws and regulations enacted and formulated to protect this archipelago's seafarers.

The stakeholders representing the various sectors involved in the deployment of seafarers such as the unions, seafarers' lawyers, manning agencies, shipowners, maritime training centers and institutions, including government agencies, are citing existing laws and regulations pertaining to the rights and protection of seafarers. Such referencing to a set body of legislation and rules confirms there is indeed a compendium of laws already dealing with the subject matter of protection of Filipino seafarers.