Maritime training not getting government support

CEBU, Philippines - While University of Cebu president Augusto Go is optimistic that foreign shipowners will continue to recruit Filipino seafarers, he is disappointed over the alleged nonchalance of the government, most especially on the aspect of financial resources in training our seafarers.

“There will always be a Filipino sea captain in the seven seas,” Go said as he lamented at how the government lacks support in providing financial assistance to maritime training programs.

Go, who built a dormitory worth P120 million for the 600 Maritime cadets studying at the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue, said that had he not built such structure, the Norwegian Shipowners Association could have offered the scholarship-to-employment opportunities in Vietnam.

“NSA could have offered such scholarship to Vietnam because the government there is willing to provide a building, a dormitory, and other facilities for the scholars. I built the dormitory for the scholars with zero support from the government,” Go said in an interview with The FREEMAN.

The NSA Philippines Cadet Project covers full payment of the student’s tuition, miscellaneous fees, board and lodging, books, meals and training expenses for the first two years. On their third year, students will undergo apprenticeship with a monthly allowance of not less than P25,000; with their monthly stipend, the students are to finance the fourth year of their education.

Go said that all their scholars, coming from various provinces and key cities of the country, are “cream of the crop”. With the cadet project, they are assured of employment after their graduation.

So far, only UC, here in Cebu, has been selected by NSA to offer such scholarship.

Also, Go said that NSA is providing the school with state-of-the-art equipment worth millions of pesos to further improve the skills of the scholars.

He added that last year, there were 3,000 applicants who wanted to apply for the NSA scholarship but only 300 were chosen for this year.

The 600 NSA scholars, who live in the dormitory as part of the training, made it to the headlines of local dailies last week after three of them tested positive of the Influenza A(H1N1) virus which prompted the school administration last Saturday to suspend its classes until June 28.

The scholars are currently under quarantine to prevent the further spread of the virus. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)