TESDA hit for stranding seamen

Members of the Retired Seafarers Association (RSA) criticized the Technical Education Skills and Development (TESDA) yesterday for suspending the issuance of certificates of competency (COCs) to seafarers since last Thursday.

The suspension, according to RSA secretary Delfin Fariola, stranded over 100 seamen who were set to return to their vessels but could not do so without their COCs.

Fariola asked TESDA director general Augusto Syjuco to look into the problems caused by the suspension of the COC issuance, which Fariola said was brought about by the supposed need “to review the guidelines being implemented by the testing centers in accordance with the existing guidelines of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).”

Fariola said manning agencies were also affected since they could not deploy seafarers without the COC. They claimed that foreign principals of the manning agencies in the Philippines would get angry since the seamen failed to arrive at their vessels on time.

Fariola said that if TESDA would implement new guidelines, it should not affect the work of hundreds of seamen in the country.

He expressed apprehension that the number of seamen stranded in the country would double since the testing centers “are still paralyzed.”

Fariola said they are studying the possibility of holding protest actions.   – Nestor Etolle