Senators call for continuous training, maritime industry reforms following EU’s decision

Senators on Saturday called for continuous skills training and industry-wide reforms following the European Union's (EU) decision to continue recognizing the certificates for seafarers issued by the Philippines.
 
Senator Risa Hontiveros commended the government agencies for their efforts and hoped that serious reforms would be put into place.
 
“Let us continue to push for industry-wide reforms. Kailangang may natutunan sa naging banta sa hanapbuhay ng ating seafarers (We must learn from this threat to the livelihood of our seafarers). Hence, it is imperative that concerns voiced by seafarers themselves, such as unreasonable fees, corruption in training and maritime schools, requirements, and others, be given greater consideration,” she said in a statement.
 
“It is also important to observe that the majority of negative findings were due to deficiencies in the education system. We call on the Commission on Higher Education and the MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority) to continue to remedy such deficiencies,” she added.
 
Hontiveros said she would continue to advocate for the passage of the Magna Carta of Seafarers to protect and advance the rights and well-being of seafarers.
 
Senator Grace Poe echoed the statement of Hontiveros, saying there should be continuous training to increase the viability of Filipino workers.
 
“The continued recognition by the European Union of the certificates for Filipino seafarers is a crucial decision that will keep them onboard ships. During this turbulent period of the global economy, we cannot afford job losses that will bring economic difficulties to millions of families,” Poe said in a separate statement.
 
“As Filipino seafarers remain the preferred choice in the EU region, we should embark on continuous skills training to increase the viability of our workers. The government and private sector should step up efforts to use the period allowed by the EU to boost training and seriously heed the issues raised by the European Maritime Safety Agency,” she added.
 
Poe said the quality of maritime education would ensure the safety of travelers and secure the future of Filipino seafarers’ families.
 
Senator Joel Villanueva said he trusted the country’s maritime authorities and that they will continue to enhance efforts to improve compliance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention).

“We have been issuing a warning about the matter since we were first given notice, and we thank the MARINA for heeding our call and for their serious efforts in ensuring that we are compliant with the International Convention on STCW,” he said.

The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, announced on Friday that it would continue to recognize the certificates issued for seafarers by the Philippines, months after it warned Filipino maritime workers may be banned from its vessels following the country’s repeated failure to hurdle the European Maritime Safety Agency's (EMSA) evaluation in the past 16 years. 

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Susan Ople said that roughly 50,000 jobs of Filipino masters and officers aboard European vessels have been saved in light of the decision. —VBL, GMA Integrated News