MARINA complies with global standards on maritime sector

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has addressed deficiencies in its maritime industry that were identified on the assessment report by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) last year, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) said.

Corrective actions have already been undertaken on the EMSA’s 2017 audit findings on Philippines’ maritime education, training, and certification systems, MARINA said.

MARINA is set to present proof of their compliance to EMSA next month, which include supportive legislation, inter-agency cooperation, responsive national provision, and good governance measures on the administration of maritime education and training programs.

“The pieces of evidence that we will present to the European Commission (EC) are testament of MARINA’s proactive approach on the issues confronting the Philippine maritime industry,” MARINA administrator Rey Leonardo Guerrero said.

“Between 2006 and 2017, the EC, through the EMSA, conducted several inspections on the country’s maritime education, training and certification system to evaluate it and to continue to earn EU’s recognition of Philippine STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) certificates. However, in July 2017, the Philippines received the EC Assessment Report detailing the 42 shortcomings of our maritime industry under the areas of national provisions, maritime administration, requirements for certification, and maritime education and training institutions,” he said.

Guerrero said MARINA has revised seven of its old circulars to harmonize it with the STCW Convention, cascading its implementation with the raising of standards for certifications.

It likewise upgraded its training standards with the approval of the refresher course in advanced firefighting, the four mandatory training courses on passenger ships, and the electro-technical officer’s course.

President Duterte has also issued Executive Order (EO) No. 63 which further strengthens the authority of MARINA as the single maritime administration, particularly in the implementation of the 1978 International Convention on STCW, as amended.

MARINA said the issuance of the EO is a manifestation of national support, as it harmonizes the administration of maritime education programs and fostering inter-agency cooperation framework among various government agencies such as the Commission on Higher Education, Department of Health, and the Philippine Coast Guard.

It also ensures a stronger MARINA representation in the technical panel on maritime education, and provides the agency a more explicit role and authority in the evaluation and inspection of maritime programs.

“MARINA has focused itself in strengthening the Philippine maritime industry by upgrading the Filipino seafarers’ required standards of competence at par with the STCW Convention relative to the EMSA findings, so that  the Philippines continues to enjoy the EU recognition for all our issued STCW certificates,” Guerrero said.