THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) welcomed the inclusion of the Philippines in the "whitelist" of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

IMO's whitelist "underscores the country's commitment to upholding the highest seafarer qualifications, competencies and skills standards."

Likewise, the DMW said the inclusion of the Philippines in the IMO whitelist "signifies Filipino seafarers' adherence to the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers convention, an international agreement promoting safety at sea and environmental protection through standardized training for merchant marines worldwide."

In addition, inclusion in the list paves the way for secure employment for Filipino seafarers, who the IMO said are the "world's preferred crew, renowned for their excellence, dedication and hard work."

"Inclusion in the whitelist is a testament to our ongoing efforts in refining and elevating the skills of our maritime workforce," DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in a statement on Tuesday. "It is a global validation of our Filipino seafarers' exceptional abilities."

Cacdac said the DMW admires the "dedication and expertise" of the country's "modern-day heroes who navigate the world's oceans."

"The DMW is firmly committed to supporting the welfare and well-being of our brave Filipino seafarers. We will work with all partner agencies and stakeholders to ensure their competence, safety and protection," Cacdac said.

DMW data shows that Filipino seafarers constitute 30 percent of the global maritime force, having deployed 570,959 of them last year.

In addition, seafarers' remittances reached an all time high in 2023, having sent back $6.85 billion (P380 billion) home.