Solon questions new fees charged from Pinoy seafarers aboard Panama vessels

A lawmaker on Thursday urged the Department of Health to look into the additional medical examination fee worth P1,040 being imposed on Filipino seafarers aiming to work aboard Panamanian-registered vessels.

In a statement, ACTS OFW party-list Representative John Bertiz III bared that the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) is currently charging an extra US$20 or P1,040 for every Filipino seafarer securing a Panamanian Medical Certificate, a pre-requisite to hiring and deployment.

“I enjoin the DOH and other agencies to look closely into the new PMA directive and make sure that this is not another blatant attempt by businessmen and their cohorts to earn from the hard work and sacrifices of our seafarers,” he said.

The PMA, in its notice to manning agencies, accredited doctors and ship owners, said the charges will go to the maintenance of an online database of the medical records of all Filipino seafarers.

The imposition of the new fees began on May 21.

Bertiz said US$15 or P780 of this amount will go to an undisclosed "online broker" tasked to set up and maintain the online database, while the remaining US$5, or P260, will go to the Panamanian Embassy in the Philippines.

The lawmaker said the "broker" will be earning an estimated P234 million per year, whereas the Panamanian embassy will make P78 million annually.

“I want to know if this new scheme had the stamp of approval from the DOH, the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), and other concerned agencies. If yes, these agencies have to start evaluating their priorities since they might be more concerned with lining the pockets of businessmen rather than protecting the interests of our workers,” Bertiz said.

“If the new fees were imposed without consulting or getting the approval of these agencies and if these are in conflict with our laws and regulations, we must take urgent steps to stop the imposition of these new fees," he added.

The new fees are also "discriminatory," Bertiz noted, as it only applies to Filipino seafarers.

"I am concerned that Filipino seafarers are being singled out by the new fees. Why is it not being imposed on seafarers of other nationalities?" he said.

"This violates the non-discrimination clauses present in almost all international conventions governing the rights of migrant workers,” Bertiz added.

An estimated 300,00 Filipino seafarers register annually with the Panamanian government who undergo medical examination once every year, according to Bertiz. —Erwin Colcol/KBK, GMA News