Top manning executives, concerned groups, and seafarers’ unions have joined the industry’s mounting calls to fast track and expand the coverage of $200 or P10,000 cash assistance to seafarers under the DOLE Abot-Kamay sa Pagtulong (AKAP) program.

In a letter to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, they appealed to include in the DOLE-AKAP program seafarers with vessel assignment in the next two to three months but do not have contracts yet.

“They are completing their pre-employment requirements such as medical examination, training, or other documentation when the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) was imposed,” said the letter also sent to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.

The letter was signed by Atty. Iris Baguilat, president of Döhle Seafront Crewing (Manila) Inc., Ms. Mailyn Borillo of OSM Phils., Capt. Leo Tenorio, CEO for Operations of Marlow Navigation Philippines, Capt. Brent Dayo, president of Zeaborn Marine Services, Mr. Alberto Gomez, president, Hartmann Crew Philippines, and Ms. Cristina Garcia, president of Blue Ocean.