MARINA given sole power over seafarer training

Amidst threats from the European Union to ban Filipino seafarers in EU-registered vessels, President Benigno Aquino, III has designated the Department of Transportation and Communication through the Maritime Industry Authority as the sole maritime administrator in the Philippines effective next month.

Aquino issued Executive Order 75 on April 30 designating MARINA as the only agency authorized to oversee the implementation of the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for seafarers.

MARINA shall assume the functions of the Maritime Training Council and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, as provided for under section 3 of E.O. 75.

“The functions of the existing MTC created under Letter of Instructions No. 1404 ( 1984) and the function of TESDA to issue the certificate of competency for ratings by virtue of EO No. 242 shall be transferred to the DOTC, through MARINA. Its functions, the records, equipment, facilities, rights and other assets and personnel are hereby transferred to the DOTC, through MARINA,” the order states.

Among the functions of MARINA under the executive order is to issue the implementing rules and regulations to ensure that all legal and administrative measures taken and provided by the concerned government agencies and instrumentalities are compliant with the STCW convention as amended.

MARINA is currently formulating rules and regulations for the full implementation of the EO and its Implementing Rules and Regulations ( IRR) to ensure compliance with the amendments and they shall issue an advisory for guidance to all concerned prior to the assumption of functions effective July 1.

The IRR is expected to be implemented on July 8 and with a threemonth transition period MARINA will then implement the Enhanced System on October 1, this year. MARINA is also tasked to review existing laws, rules and regulations and undertake appropriate action to recommend to Congress the enactment of appropriate measures to revise or amend any and all existing laws, whenever warranted to comply with and implement the STCW Convention, as amended.

MARINA shall exercise oversight and supervision functions over compliance with all qualification requirements and conditions under the STCW Convention relating to maritime education, training and certification in accordance with existing and applicable laws. And lastly, MARINA shall issue the appropriate certification for the deployment of seafarers in international seaborne trade consistent with the STCW Convention.

The issuance of the executive order was done after the European Union warned of the possible ban of Filipino seamen on EU- registered vessels, if their training will not meet the standards set out in the STCW convention.

The Executive Order states, “It is of paramount national interest that the competitiveness of the Filipino seafarer be promoted and sustained and thereby ensure that they are accorded consistent priority in employment and that their job security is maintained.”

“The above objective can only be fully achieved through the institution of a single maritime authority in the government to oversee and supervise the maritime education, training and certification system in accordance with the adopted international standards at all levels,” the order added.

In view of RA 8544 or the Philippine Merchant Marine Officers Act of 1998, institutional arrangement shall be made between MARINA and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for the joint issuance of the COC and its corresponding endorsement which is also effective on July 1.

Capt. Juan Antoine Dela Torre, president of the Cebu Gems Innovation and Career Development Center Inc., said the implementation of the executive order was a great development for all the maritime- related agencies in the country.

“Even before we are hoping that there will be one body to cover the whole maritime matters and this was granted with the implementation of the executive order,” he said.

Dela Torre, who used to work in a European vessel, said that Filipino seafarers work better.

“Kasi tayo mahilig sa bukas- bukas, pinapabukas pa natin kung anong dapat nating gawin ngayon. We really have to comply with the training requirements. The European communities will really check if we are compliant to their requirements,” he said.