Negros: Top source of quality seafarers

THE province of Negros Occidental remains as the top source of quality seafarers, an official said.

Pobar Marine Services Inc. Director and General Manager Leonito Mirande said that of the total 1,300 seamen in its roster nationwide, about 500 of them are from the province.

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Mirande met with some of the seafarers and their families in a luncheon meeting held at Aboy’s Restaurant in Bacolod City recently.

He also pledged that the Manila-based firm will always give priority to applicants from the province in their future deployment.

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who graced the occasion, thanked Pobar for continuously providing overseas employment to the graduates of the local maritime schools in the city.

Leonardia said Pobar’s advocacy for the Negrense seafarers is in line with the goals of his administration to promote Bacolod not only as the country’s most business friendly city but also as the premier manpower provider.

Pobar Chairman of the Board Tetsuya Suzuki, meanwhile, welcomed the “allotees”, seafarers’ spouses and parents, as he emphasized that the company values its employees as partners in the business.

He said that for the past many years, Pobar has been a consistent top performing manning agency in the Philippines and is listed among the leaders in the maritime industry.

On the other hand, Pobar president Carmen C. Rebusi told the attendees that the company is strengthening its services to the allotees, including the processing of remittances and other forms of assistance needed by the families of the seafarers.

The luncheon activity is the first provincial get-together hosted by Pobar for its allotees outside of Metro Manila.

Also present at the gathering were VMA Global College president Elizabeth Salabas, Bacolod police chief Celestino Guarra, and Pobar officers Captain Jose Ramon Diamante, Captain Emmanuel Ubaldo and administrative officer Doris Garcia.