Maritime training center assures trainees of continuous operation

Far East Maritime Foundation, Inc., the country’s leading maritime training center, has assured its Filipino seafarer-trainees of its continued operation despite maneuverings by its competitors.

Last week, the Office of the President, in a resolution signed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, denied the motion for reconsideration filed by FEMFI seeking a reversal of an August 2007 decision revoking the accreditation of FEMFI on the grounds that it is a foundation and is not entitled to offer training courses for a fee to non-members.

FEMFI has elevated the case to the Court of Appeals.

FEMFI’s competitors claimed that the decision to revoke the accredidation of FEMFI is now final and executory and that FEMFI is about to be closed, causing confusion and panic to its seafarer-trainees.

In a press conference yesterday, FEMFI legal counsel lawyer Antonio Carpio explained that the decision of the Office of the President is not yet final and executory. “The appellate courts cannot be pre-empted on whatever decision they will come up with in the exercise of their appellate jurisdiction,” Carpio said.

Carpio said the decision of the Office of the President is a complete turnaround from the earlier decision handed by the Maritime Training Center and the Department of Labor and Employment approving FEMFI’s amended Articles of Incorporation and allowing the training center to continue its operation, Carpio said.

Now on its 16th year of operations, FEMFI accounts for the largest share of enrolees in the Filipino seafarer training market and has issued certificates to at least 60,000 seamen in the country, Carpio said.

With FEMFI out of the industry, other local maritime training centers would certainly have a windfall in terms of profit, he said.

Carpio said FEMFI will take legal action against its competitors for spreading false claims against the training center.          – Nestor Etolle