SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

Introduced by ANGKLA Partylist Representative JESULITO A, MANALO

AN ACT RENAMING CABILDO STREET IN INTRAMUROS, MANILA.
TO CAPT, GREGORIO S. OCA

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled,

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Street of Cabildo in Intramuros, Manila has been a popular area mostly for the
Filipino seafarers. Cabildo houses several edifices dedicated to address the needs of the
seafarers, such as the AMOSUP Scamen’s Centre, AMOSUP Slop Chest Manila, AMOSUP.
ilor’s Home Manila, Seamen’s Hospital and AMOSUP Sailor's Home Annex. All these
structures located along the street of Cabildo were constructed because of the dreams and
passion shared by Capt. Gregorio $. Oca (Capt. Oca) to his fellow maritime professionals,
and their respective families.

Prior to 1960, seafarers did not have a structured labour group even as workers from
other industries began to organize. ‘The members working on board foreign vessels were
receiving low salaries and wages, experiencing poor working conditions, getting few benefits
and little protection from the hazards of their profession such as sickness, accident and death.

Concerned with the plight of the Filipino seafarer, Capt. Oca organized the
Associated Marine Officers’ Union of the Philippines (AMOUP) on Nov. 11, 1960 with Phil.
Transport General Workers’ Organization (PTG WO) as the mother federation. At around the
same time, Bro. Donato Alarcon sought to organize the Filipino unlicensed crew, forming the
Associated Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (ASUP). ”

It was in 1970 when AMOUP and ASUP merged to form one cohesive organization —
the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP-
PTGWO). Shortly after this inception, AMOSUP affiliated itself with the Intemational
‘Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) in 1972. This proved to be a significant factor in
providing improved terms of conditions of work of the Filipino seafarers and the growth of
their membership in the organization.



The Union, through its Training Centers, started a series of training programs to
upgrade the skills of Filipino seafarers and ensure their competitiveness with their foreign
counterparts.

Capt. Gregorio S. Oca worked tirelessly and selflessly. With his wit and diplomacy,
he proved his exceptional bargaining skills in negotiating for better benefits. He put his
ability to build and maintain relationships with the international community to good use, 50
years after the founding of AMOSUP, the maritime landscape has changed dramatically.
Capt. Oca’s dream of providing more socialized benefits came true and he helped the
Filipino seafarer earn the respect and admiration of the global maritime community. Alll these
perseverance and efforts to address the needs of and to develop the maritime industry were
mostly conceptualized and made into a reality within the street of Cabildo. When Capt. Oca
passed away in November 2010, he has made sure to have laid the ground work for
AMOSUP, which he desires to continue on even after he is gone.

Undeniably, Capt. Oca is among those selfless individuals who dedicated his time,
effort and passion to serve the interests and advocate the many needs of the seafarers. This
bill is geared towards recognizing the efforts and contributions of Capt. Oca by
institutionalizing his memory in the history of Intramuros, Manila, ‘The efforts by Capt. Oca
to promote the Filipino seafarers worldwide resulted into the Philippines being a major
source of maritime professionals. The contribution of our seafarers in the amount of US$5.1
Billion in 2013 alone has helped our economy, as it had been for so many years. Thus,
renaming Cabildo Street ~~ the place where he made all his visions for the seafaring industry
come true ~~ to “Capt. Gregorio S, Oca’, is indeed appropriate.



SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No._400.4

Introduced by ANGKLA Partylist Representative JESULITO A, MANALO.

AN ACT RENAMING CABILDO STREET IN INTRAMUROS, MANILA
TO CAPT. GREGORIO S. OCA

Be it enncted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled,

Section 1, ‘The Road within the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Manila, particularly
located in Intramuros, which is named and referred to as Cabildo Street is hereby renamed as
Capt. Gregorio S. Oca.

Section 2. ‘The Intramuros Administration and/or any other agency or government entity
authorized to install street signs in Intramuros shall implement this Act, with the old name
(Cabildo Street) to be placed in smaller type underneath the new name, Capt. Gregorio S.
(Oca, in the signage.”

Section 3. ‘This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two
newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,