THE Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) will fully support the recommendation to make Filipino seafarers military reservists.
In an interview on Special on Saturday, an online televised program of DZRH News, PMMA superintendent Commodore Joel Abutal replied an “absolute yes” to the proposal for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to issue an executive order automatically classifying the country’s 400,000 active seafarers as military reservists.
The proposal was raised by former Defense secretary Norberto Gonzales during the National Defense College of the Philippines Alumni Association Inc. Annual Defense Forum where he mentioned that an executive order, and eventually a law, could formally designate active seafarers as reservists, complete with certification and civil service eligibility.
Gonzales, since his time as a presidential aspirant, has been pushing for a national mobilization to increase the country’s reserve security forces amid the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
“[The national mobilization] is called for times of war or similar serious contingency faced by the nation, that action is constitutional. We will mobilize all the Filipino people to face the contingency,” Gonzales said in a separate interview.
He added that while 10 to 20 million Filipino reservists cannot match China’s soldiers, it will be enough to show determination and patriotism “to defend every inch of our soil.”
During the recent Annual Defense Forum, Gonzales once again pointed out this policy gap, this time, with the recommendation of addressing it by enlisting 400,000 Filipino seafarers into military reserve service.
He argued that seafarers possess internationally validated technical competence through their work abroad, making them ideal candidates for reservist status without requiring extensive additional training.
This was echoed by Abutal who added that enlisting seafarers is an “overlooked strategic power.”
He noted that on top of the 400,000 actively sailing seafarers, the Philippines also has approximately 1.8 million seafarer graduates who eventually become master mariners, chief engineers, port supervisors, and maritime executives working across the globe.
Abutal emphasized that these professionals can be a strategic asset for the country’s defense posture.
Cadets from semi-regimental maritime schools such as the PMMA, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP), and John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (JBLFMU), upon graduation, are commissioned as ensigns in the Philippine Navy Reserve.
Ship captains speak of enlistment
Seafarers and maritime professionals mostly concur with the recommendation to automatically enlist seafarers as military reservists.
Rolando Ramos, a seafarer for 32 years, nine of which were spent serving as a ship captain, welcomed the proposal.
“Yes, why not? Most of us are medical and physically fit. Navigators could provide services in ship handing, while engineers, well experienced in trouble shooting, will be a big help in maintenance and operation,” Ramos said.
This was echoed by Ferdinand Romero, a seafarer for 16 years and captain for six.
“If tensions in the West Philippine Sea were to escalate, the idea of drafting all Filipino seafarers into military service or reservist roles presents both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, Filipino seafarers are globally recognized for their maritime expertise, and their skills in navigation, ship handling, and safety could serve as a valuable force multiplier for naval and auxiliary operations. Their large numbers also provide a ready pool of personnel who could be mobilized quickly,” he said.
Romero added, however, that mandatory conscription may risk global supply chain as Filipino seafarers comprise about 25 percent of the global maritime workforce.
“Given the Philippines’ role as the world’s largest supplier of seafarers, this may disrupt livelihoods and create economic consequences.
“Moreover, merchant marine skills do not automatically translate into combat readiness, requiring additional training and adaptation. Even if there are a lot of Filipino seafarers, mostly or a lot of them has not even have taken the basic military or fundamental training,” Romero said.
The captain recommended for a more balance approach in establishing a voluntary reservist program with incentives.
“This should also prioritize specialized roles such as logistics and maritime safety and implement tiered mobilization that minimizes disruption to overseas employment. This framework would probably strengthen national defense while respecting the economic and personal realities of seafarers, ensuring their contribution enhances security without compromising their global maritime role,” he explained.