PTC is honored to be represented at the upcoming Conference on Seafarers’ Human Rights, Safety, and Well-Being, taking place on September 1–3, 2025, in Manila, Philippines. Mr. Gerardo Borromeo, Vice Chairman and CEO of PTC and Chairman of the Executive Board of the World Maritime University, together with Capt. Pol Haboc, Vice President of PHILCAMSAT, will participate as panelists in this landmark gathering.

Mr. Borromeo will join the panel discussion on “Protecting Seafarers in Crisis Situations” on September 1, where he will highlight the importance of building crisis-readiness competencies in global seafarer training. Meanwhile, Capt. Haboc will take part in the panel on “Seafarers and the Just Transition in the Maritime Industry” on September 2, where he will emphasize the need for upskilling seafarers to prepare them for the Green Maritime Transition.

Co-organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the conference will bring together around 200 senior government officials, international organizations, industry leaders, and representatives from over 30 countries. Its aim is to address pressing global issues affecting seafarers and chart pathways for ensuring their rights, safety, and well-being.

Anchored on the theme “No One Left Adrift: Seafarers at the Cross Currents of Commerce, Conflict, and Change,” the event builds on the momentum of the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 56/18, adopted in July in Geneva. This landmark resolution, strongly championed by the Philippines, is the first to recognize both the indispensable role of seafarers in sustaining global trade and the urgent need to strengthen protections for their welfare.

Over three days, the conference will feature thematic panel discussions and side events on critical issues such as protecting human rights at sea, safeguarding seafarers in times of crisis, advancing gender equality and inclusivity, and ensuring a just transition amid climate change and technological shifts. Discussions will also highlight digital innovation in maritime services, psychological safety, and the empowerment of women in the maritime workforce.

The conference is expected to culminate in the adoption of the Manila Declaration on Seafarers’ Human Rights, Safety, and Well-Being—a call to action for governments, shipowners, international organizations, and civil society to uphold and safeguard the dignity of seafarers worldwide.