Robredo vows more cadetship programs to increase officers from seafarers‘ ranks

Vice President and presidential aspirant Leni Robredo said Thursday her administration will widen access to cadetship programs for Filipino seafarers which will allow them to be promoted to officers and increase their income.

"What is the data now? There are one million Filipino seafarers, but those who are officers, based on my discussions with their representatives, their estimate is that only 120,000 out of the one million are officers. As it is, there are few opportunities for them to undergo a cadetship program due to lack of government support," Robredo said during the COVID-19 Vaccine Express event in Pasay City for Filipino seafarers.

"Ang layo ng sweldo ng opisyal sa hindi opisyal (The pay gap between officers and non-officers is huge). If the government will support our seafarers by providing them access to cadetship program in our schools, they will now be qualified to be an officer. More cadetship programs will mean more officers from Filipino seafarers' ranks," she added.

She shared that her office had a project providing a cadetship program in Bulan, Sorsogon back in 2018, and that 72 Filipino seafarers finished that program since.

"80% of a Filipino seafarer's salary is remitted to their families. As it is, their remittance accounts for almost $US 8 billion a year. If more Filipino seafarers will become officers, their salary will double or even triple, and we will be able to enlist more," she pointed out.

"Bulan is a small town. Imagine if every small town will have 72 graduates of cadetship program, they will all become officers. We really have a big potential here," she added. — Llanesca T. Panti/RSJ, GMA News