MANILA, Philippines — SM Supermalls has recently inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Joint Ship Manning Group (JMG), the country’s largest federation of seafarers’ manning associations, for the inclusion of the seafarers and their families in SM’s Global Pinoy Program.

The agreement, signed by SM Prime Holdings Inc. President Hans T. Sy Jr. and JMG Chairman Eduardo U. Manese, has opened SM’s Global Pinoy Centers nationwide as an added venue for JMG’s projects and programs.

It will also serve as a gateway to access more information and job opportunities in the maritime industry. The program shall also entitle seafarers and their families an access to the exclusive amenities of the Global Pinoy Centers such as currency exchange and remittance services, free internet use, program rewards and other exciting privileges.

At any given time, there are about 300,000 Filipino seafarers aboard vessels, from cruise liners to oil rigs. The Philippines supplies about 30 percent of the seafarers’ population worldwide.

SM Prime is the country’s largest operator of a chain of fully-integrated, multi-level retail shopping, dining, entertainment, educational, and leisure complexes, while the JMG is a non-stock, non-profit umbrella organization of maritime and manning associations in the Philippines. With the agreement, the benefits and privilege to hardworking seafarers has become bigger and enhanced.

JMG’s member associations include the Filipino Association for Mariners’ Employment Inc. (FAME), Filipino Shipowners’ Association (FSA), International Maritime Association of the Philippines (INTERMAP), Philippine Association of Manning Agencies and Shipmanagers, Inc. (PAMAS), and Philippine-Japan Manning Consultative Council, Inc. (PJMCC).