DOLE pushes green maritime skills for Filipino seafarers as ocean economy hits P1.08 trillion

Philippine Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino told the Blue Economy Annual Trade and Conference that the government is focusing on skills for green shipping, low-carbon fuels, and modern ship repair. The ocean economy generated P1.08 trillion in 2025, about 3.8 percent of GDP, and supported 2.46 million workers. DOLE is setting up a Maritime Labor Affairs Office to handle legal aid, dispute settlement, and seafarer welfare under the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers. The goal is to move Filipino workers from manual roles into technical jobs like marine engineering, vessel retrofitting, and ship design. The push ties maritime jobs to decarbonization, since ships and ports face pressure to cut emissions. The question is whether training programs and port-side infrastructure, like low-carbon fuel supply and shore power, keep pace with the policy announcements.