MWO-WDC CELEBRATES 2023 NATIONAL SEAFARERS’ DAY AND WORLD MARITIME DAY

PRESS RELEASE
WDC-45-2023
10 OCTOBER 2023
Embassy Press and Information Section
info@phembassy-us.org

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C., through its Migrant Workers Office (MWO-WDC) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Office (OWWA-WDC), celebrated the 2023 National Seafarers’ Day, and World Maritime Day with Filipino seafarers onboard the Carnival Sunrise, and Carnival Conquest of the Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) on September 28 and 29, respectively, in Miami, Florida. 

With this year’s theme “Marinong Filipino: Patuloy sa Pangangalaga ng Karagatan” (Filipino Seafarers: Ceaselessly Safeguarding the Ocean) the celebration highlighted the vital role and contribution of our seafarers not only in the development of the country’s maritime industry but in the world economy as well.  

The MWO-WDC team, led by Labor Attache Saul De Vries, conducted the ship visit to meet with the Filipino seafarers and check on their welfare and working conditions onboard the said cruise ships. Secretary General Doreen Badeaux of the Apostleship of the Sea-USA (AOS) joined the visit to the two ships. Meanwhile, Philippine Honorary Consul Henry Howard of Florida accompanied the team in their visit to Carnival Conquest. Mr. Scott Nelson, Director of Human Resources Operations, and Mr. Garry Williams, Manager of Fleet Human Resource Services of CCL welcomed the team.

Labor Attache De Vries and Welfare Officer Mae Codilla engaged the seafarers in a discussion about DMW and OWWA programs, as well as other concerns pertaining to their welfare. Ms. Badeaux, on the other hand, presented the services offered by AOS for seafarers. The Filipino seafarers were also given opportunity to bring their concerns to the Social Security System (SSS) in a virtual consultation with its representative, Ms. Celenia Dimaano.  More than 600 Filipino seafarers are currently working onboard the two ships accounting for 30% of the total crew.

The National Seafarers’ Day is annually observed in the Philippines every last Sunday of September by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1094 signed by former President Fidel Ramos while the last Thursday of September is declared as World Maritime Day by the International Maritime Organization.###