Marina inks accord with MAAP, 4 others on trainors for seafarers’ certification

To ensure that training and assessment of seafarers for certificationunder the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW)conventionand code are conducted and supported by “qualified” persons, the Maritime Industry Authority has entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP)) and four other maritime institutions to this effect.

The MOA was signed last January 23, at the Marina board room in Manilaby administrator Dr. Marcial Q.C. Amaro III with Vice Admiral Eduardo Ma. R. Santos AFP (ret.), president of MAAP; executive director Romulo V. Bernandes and training chief Ms.Marie Grace T. Ayaso, National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP); Captain Arsenio C. Padilla Jr.,president of Philippine Association of Maritime Training Centers, Inc. (PAMTCI), Vice Admiral Richard U. Ritual, president of Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) and Mr. Eduardo U. Manese,president of International Mariners’ Management Association Japan (IMMAJ) — Philippine-Japan Manning Consultative Council ( PJMCC)Foundation, Inc. The academies or organizations represented are described in the MOA as the "institutions." Transportation Undersecretaryfor Maritime Affairs Felipe A. Judan and Asecfor Maritime Sector Fernando Juan C. Perez graced the signing rites.

To Marina’ss yardstick, the said five maritime institutions and organizations are "providers" of International Maritime Organization (IMO) Model Courses 6.09; 3.12; 6.10.

Under the MOAs, the Administration (Marina) shall recognize the institutions to conduct the said courses, in accordance withits policies, rules and standards pursuant to international practices in maritime education and training, and approve the final list of students attending, as well as monitor the conduct of training and assessment of said courses; It shall also set the minimum standards and guidelines in furtherance of the MOA which shall be binding upon the institutions. On the other hand, the institutions concerned shall submit annual training plan for approval of the Administration, and submit needed amendments, as early as applicable, as well as official enrolment reports on the first day of the courses. There must be a minimum of two approved facilitators who have adequate background and knowledge of the maritime industry and have work experience in maritime education and training institutions.The accord clearly provides that the institutions must also ensure that facilitators are appropriatelyqualified as guided by staff requirements of the course framework duly approved by the Administration.

A facilitator must be a graduate of "any" baccalaureate course, preferably in education ,maritime, human resource management, or related course or equivalent; must have completed the instructors and assessors course, taking into account the IMO model courses 6.09 and 3.12 from a recognized training provider in the Philippines or any IMO member state; must have at least three years of teaching/ training experience, one year of which in maritime training and education sector; or if a licensed ship officer, must have at least two years of seagoing service as an officer and at least one year of teaching/training experience. A facilitator must be in "good standing in the community in general and in the maritime industry as applicable with no derogatory record." Any violation of the terms and conditions of the agreement or of minimum standards set by the administration is a ground for immediate revocation of the agreement.