By HERBERT VEGO
WE have received text messages asking: Is the Free Legal Assistance for Seafarers (FLAS) a party-list representation? We are not surprised by that because of FLAS’ reputation as legal service provider whenever they have labor problems with shipping principals and agencies.
The truth of the matter is that FLAS is no party-list; it is an advocacy spearheaded by a philanthropist lawyer, Atty. Pedro “Pete” Linsangan, who simply feels he does not have to be a politician to be of help. Now a septuagenarian, Pete Linsangan still heads the Free Legal Assistance for Seafarers (FLAS), which also comprises his son Gerard and six lady lawyers.
The party-list representing the overseas and interisland seaman is Ankla, which is represented in the House of Representatives by Rep. Jesulito Manalo, a lawyer. Unfortunately, we have no record of him having rendered legal assistance to seafarers deprived of disability or death benefits.
In fairness to Ankla’s Manalo, however, he is the main author of House Bill 3766, designating the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) as the single maritime regulatory agency to enforce compliance of the 1978 International Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (ICSTCWS).
The Philippines is a signatory to the said convention as amended in Manila in 2010.
The approval of the Manalo bill into law has become of paramount importance now that the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has threatened to impose a ban in the hiring of Filipino seamen. Of the more than 200,000 overseas seafarers today, 80,000 of them are on board European vessels.
When signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III, Manalo claims, his bill “will fortify the Philippine position as a premier provider of competent seafarers in the global maritime industry.”
Filipino seamen deployed in various parts of the world are among the biggest contributors to the national economy with around P5 billion sent to the country in 2013.
“At present,” according to Manalo, “different government agencies regulate the issuance of licenses or certificates for the human complement of the seaborne trade. A single agency with this mandate will efficiently regulate these matters.”
If I may suggest, let Ankla do what FLAS has been doing – offer free legal assistance to seamen with labor problems.
Meanwhile, let me tell you about a labor case that has meant everything to a seaman on a six-month contract who had to quit in his fifth month due to chronic hypertension, Ricky Idioma, galley supervisor on board the vessel “Carnival Valor”.
The manning agency that had recruited him declined to pay him any disability benefits despite his doctor’s certification that he would no longer be fit again to board ship due to his sickness. Since his contract was about to expire on the date of his repatriation back to Manila, the agency would only pay him the remaining month of his six-month contract.
Following the advice of Atty. Linsangan, Ricky pushed his luck and filed a claim for permanent disability compensation before the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC). The move turned out to be right with NLRC’s decision ordering the agency to pay him US $60,000 in payment of his claim, plus reimbursement of medicine and hospital expenses incurred in a period of 120 days.
“My client was so happy over the unexpected manna from heaven that he referred to me many other seamen in need of free legal assistance. That’s why I can’t retire.”
Linsangan, 75, has a FLAS office here in Iloilo represented by paralegals Neri Camiña, Nelly Nobleza and this writer. We host the radio program Tribuna sang Banwa over Aksyon Radyo every Sunday, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. We may be contacted by cellular phone numbers 0917-3288742 and 09183340067, respectively, or by e-mail to hvego@yahoo.com. /PN
