Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Philippine Maritime Convention 2026

Thank you to our Migrant Workers Secretary, Secretary Hans Cacdac. [Please be seated]

The esteemed members of the Diplomatic Corps; Trade Union Partylist Representative and Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito Mendoza; our private partners and stakeholders in the Philippine Maritime Convention for 2026; employers, employees of the Department of Migrant Workers; fellow workers in government; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

Good morning.

I am delighted to join you today as we bring together the people and the institutions that have made the Philippines a respected maritime nation around the world.

For generations, Filipino seafarers have carried more than cargo across the oceans. They have carried the reputation, the culture, and the pride of the Philippines.

Today, the Philippines accounts for nearly one in every five deployed seafarers worldwide, making the Philippines the world’s leading seafarer-supplying country.

Wherever there is a ship that needs a skilled hand, a steady mind, and a strong sense of responsibility, more often than not, there is a Filipino on board.

Our seafarers remain in demand because of their competence, adaptability, and their character.

Yet preserving that hard-earned reputation carries a greater responsibility: to remain a leading global maritime player while ensuring that all Filipino seafarers know that their country stands firmly behind them.

And we have remained true to that commitment.

Two years ago, on September 23, 2024, I signed Republic Act No. 12021, or the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, into law, a landmark measure for our maritime workforce.

As we commemorate its second anniversary, we renew our commitment to uphold the rights, the welfare, the safety, and the dignity of our seafarers.

But this commemoration must also lead us to confront the realities that our seafarers face today.

The maritime sector is in a period of profound change. Their work has become complex, and in some cases, dangerous.

New technologies are transforming ships and ship operations. Digitalization is changing the skills that the industry requires. The way we prepare and protect our seafarers must evolve with the world that they sail in.

Our seafarers have found themselves caught in armed conflicts, geopolitical tensions, attacks, and other security incidents they did not create and in which they had no part.

Some have suffered injuries, while others have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty. We honor their service and their courage, and we extend our deepest sympathies to the families that they have left behind.

In moments like this, we are reminded that no maritime industry can truly be sustainable if the people who keep it moving are left vulnerable.

From the beginning of this Administration, we have strengthened the systems that protect and support our seafarers.

We continue to strengthen the implementation of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers Convention and Code, keeping our maritime education, training, assessment, and certification systems aligned with evolving international standards so that Filipino seafarers remain globally competent and globally competitive.

This year, we signed the 2026 DMW Sea-Based Rules and the updated Standard Employment Contracts for Overseas Filipino Seafarers to enhance their protection and accountability.

The government likewise established a dedicated Seafarers’ Welfare Center to provide welfare, training, healthcare, and legal support services for Filipino seafarers and their families.

As security risks have intensified in war-risk areas, the DMW and the OWWA have heightened safeguards for our seafarers while strengthening our capacity for emergency repatriation.

Our support also continues when they return home.

Through the Full-Cycle National Reintegration Program, we provide livelihood, wellness, financial literacy, and other assistance based on their needs and on their skills.

This includes the 2026 LIKHAng MARINO Business Plan Competition, which provides returning Filipino seafarers with business coaching and technical guidance, as well as seed capital for winning business proposals.

We also recognize that protecting our seafarers goes hand-in-hand with strengthening our local maritime industry.

We are improving certification and licensing and providing regulatory relief to help domestic shipping remain safe and competitive.

These reforms will help us build a stronger maritime industry that creates opportunities for our people and keeps our islands connected and safe.

But government cannot do this by itself. This is precisely why gatherings such as this Convention are very, very important.

The government, employers, shipowners, labor, and education and training institutions each have an important role to play.

Through it all, our seafarers themselves remain at the heart of all of these efforts.

Let us ensure that every Filipino that sails under the Philippine flag, or represents the Philippines aboard an international vessel, carries the confidence that their country stands behind them.

They have spent generations connecting the Philippines to the world. We owe it to them to build a system worthy of their sacrifice, their trust, and their dreams.

We have sailed far because our people are capable. And we will sail forward because we will do so together.

Maraming salamat. Mabuhay ang ating mga Filipino seafarers.

Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas! [applause]

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