Congress once again adopts Magna Carta for Seafarers.

The Magna Carta on Filipino Seafarers measure was rebuilt by both Houses of Congress and the bicameral commission before being delivered to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for signature. The third report was approved by both Houses, allowing the measure to be sent to the President.

“What is that serious subject matter which has caused this measure its very strange legislative course?” Pimentel asked during the plenary session.

"I’m sorry if I have to put this on record. This has been the third time, if I’m not mistaken because twice I was a member of the bicameral conference committee. Ito po ay pangatlo na." Villanueva said.

A bill introduced by Senator Raffy Tulfo for Senate ratification has a section 59 designed to strike a balance between the interests of businesses and seafarers. The measure addresses ambulance chasing and creates a favorable legal environment in an effort to guarantee the employability of Filipino sailors. Pimentel, on the other hand, voted against ratification, claiming that section 59 gives local Filipino employers less preference than foreign seafarers.

“If we approve this insertion, adverse decisions against foreign employers of Filipino seafarers will NO LONGER be immediately executory, while those against local employers of Filipino workers are. If we approve this insertion, foreign employers of Filipino seafarers will no longer need to post a bond in order to perfect appeals of adverse decisions of the labor arbiter, while local employers of Filipino workers need to post a bond to perfect an appeal. This may lead to frivolous dilatory appeals of adverse decisions by these foreign employers of seafarers,” Pimentel said.

Senators Risa Hontiveros and Joel Villlanueva have voiced reservations regarding the proposed measure, which requires payment of a bond prior to the receipt of disability payments for seafarers. Given that the Senate has not before considered or approved legislation with similar elements, Villlanueva thinks the bill may be a political football.

Hontiveros, however, feels that the connection separates labor claims made by local and foreign workers from those made by seafarers. Additionally, they advised care when utilizing the Department of Migrant Workers' Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund, which offers OFWs financial, medical, legal, and other forms of support.
Hontiveros contended that public monies cannot be utilized for private purposes and that it is improper for the government to reimburse private firms with such cash. However, Villanueva voiced serious concerns regarding the bond's use of public monies.