The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), together with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP), and the Associated Philippine Seafarers Unions (APSU), joined forces to champion seafarers’ mental health.
Through a three-day Training of Trainers on Stress: Understanding, Early Management, and Coping held on 18–20 August 2025, at the AMOSUP Convention Hall, Intramuros, Manila, equipping maritime educators and stakeholders with tools to promote resilience and well-being at sea.
The initiative also reflected the shared commitment of maritime stakeholders to enhance the knowledge and skills of maritime faculty in addressing mental health and well-being issues faced by seafarers.
MARINA-STCW Office Executive Director Samuel L. Batalla underscored the urgency of tackling mental health challenges brought about by long separations from families, heavy workloads, and isolation at sea, emphasizing the role of trainers as advocates and multipliers of change in promoting seafarers’ mental health.
AMOSUP President Dr. Conrad F. Oca, ITF Head of Maritime Operations John Canias, and ITF Maritime Coordinator Jacqueline Smith emphasized that mental health is as essential as physical health in ensuring the resilience and productivity of seafarers. With mental health now gaining recognition as a vital issue in the maritime industry, they stressed the importance of building resilience, supporting well-being throughout a seafarer’s career, and equipping trainers to cascade this knowledge to the next generation.
Facilitated by MARINA’s Ms. Presca Lee Lugo, the training featured Dr. Asif Altaf, ITF’s Wellbeing Coordinator, who brought over a decade of expertise in mental health.
Forty-nine participants from state universities, private maritime higher educations institutions (MHEIs), and welfare organizations participated in this training.
In his closing remarks, MARINA Deputy Executive Director Capt. Vicente C. Navarro urged participants to translate their learnings into meaningful actions within their classrooms, workplaces, and communities. He stressed that supporting the resilience of seafarers is both a moral duty and a professional necessity, ensuring that Filipino seafarers remain globally competitive while safeguarding their well-being.
The training reaffirmed the collective resolve of MARINA, ITF, AMOSUP, and APSU to place mental health at the center of maritime education and training, strengthening the industry’s commitment to the holistic welfare of Filipino seafarers.
