Seafarer deployment saw an all-time high in 2023 —DMW

The Philippines saw an all-time high deployment of seafarers in 2023, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Saturday.

“Noong 2023 naka-all time high tayo… lagpas sa limang daang libo, kaya’t ang ating demand for maritime seafarers ay patuloy,” DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

(In 2023, we hit an all-time high of over 500,000. That's why there's a continued demand for maritime seafarers.)

Meanwhile, the DMW chief said about 30% of Filipino seafarers are still awaiting deployment.

The Philippines was once again included in the white list of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). 

The country’s inclusion in the IMO’s white list was given for the country’s commitment to maintaining high standards in maritime education, training, and certification for Filipino seafarers, according to the Department of Transportation.

The white list signifies that seafarers trained and certified in the Philippines meet the rigorous international standards set by the IMO Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention. —VAL, GMA Integrated News