ABSTRACT
The newly enacted Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers (Republic Act No. 12021) serves as a critical legislative framework protecting the rights and welfare of maritime workers. However, the efficacy of such labor laws relies heavily on the rights-holders' actual comprehension of their provisions. This descriptive-quantitative study assessed the level of awareness and understanding of RA 12021 among 253 third-year Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation students at the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies. Utilizing a validated, researcher-developed questionnaire, data were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics, regression analysis, t-tests, and ANOVA. Results indicated that students possess a high level of general awareness regarding the law's existence (M = 3.94); however, their substantive understanding of its specific provisions remained only moderate (M = 13.43). Crucially, regression analysis demonstrated that mere awareness did not significantly predict understanding (p = 0.110). Comparative analyses revealed that while attending seminars significantly boosted baseline awareness, it failed to improve comprehension. Conversely, the formal integration of maritime law into the academic curriculum significantly enhanced understanding. Furthermore, female students exhibited a significantly higher level of comprehension compared to their male counterparts, whereas having a family background in seafaring provided no statistical advantage. The study concludes that while current educational paradigms effectively establish baseline legal awareness, translating this into practical, actionable understanding requires structured, analytical classroom instruction rather than informal exposure, urging maritime institutions to prioritize scenario-based legal education.
KEYWORDS
Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, Republic Act No. 12021, Maritime Education and Training, Legal Awareness and Understanding
CITATION
Tingas, A. N. B., Forte, J. M. L. D., Armado, B. L. G., Ibong, E. I. C., & Galindo, A. B. (2026). AWARENESS VS. ACTIONABLE UNDERSTANDING: DISSECTING THE DISCONNECT IN MARITIME LEGAL EDUCATION REGARDING THE MAGNA CARTA OF FILIPINO SEAFARERS. GET INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL, 4(2), 149–159.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20352940
