Gov't urged to strip Marina of STCW function

A proposal to strip the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) of responsibilities to perform the function of issuing STCW certificates is being recommended so that the Philippines can comply with the requirements of the revised Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention.

Making the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) ultimately accountable for the question of STCW endorsement will also satisfy the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in its search for the agency that will take the burden of responsibility once problem arises over compliance with international law.

Repealing two "unwarranted" executive orders ( EO Nos. 396 and 149) and implementing Republic Act 8544 or the Philippine Merchant Marine Officers' Law, which was enacted in February 1998, will overcome "inconsistencies in the country's flawed certification system."

These are some of the recommendations the Maritime Training Council (MTC), wants to put forward in response to the clarifications and information that the IMO sent to the Philippine government.

This set of "further clarifications and information" being sought from the world's largest supplier of seafarers noted a number of inconsistencies in the government's certification system with regard to STCW. It was the second batch of clarifications and commentaries since an IMO "panel of competent persons" deliberated on the country's STCW Report.

These inconsistencies have hampered the Philippines' bid to make it to the "white list" of complying states to assure the continued employment of Filipino seafarers aboard international commercial ships.

Among those agencies with "questionable" role in the STCW function is Marina. The IMO has cast doubts on Marina as the lead agency in the implementation of STCW 95 since the local shipping body has "no control or involvement in the development of rules, supervision and certification of competency (other than jointly issuing the endorsement), suspend or revoke certificates of competency, enforce its rules among others.

MTC, which is a member of the STCW Executive Committee, also recommends the withdrawal of Marina's memo circular nos. 129 and 130, that provide different rules for the issuance of certificates. Since Marina has no authority to issue certificates, MTC concurred with the IMO that Marina has no basis in formulating and issuing such circulars.

The IMO noted that this basic function is clearly stated in Section 10 of Article I of RA 8544, which says that "issuing certificates in accordance with STCW is a duty of Boards (Deck and Marine Engineer Officers) which are under the authority of PRC."

Meanwhile, the IMO also asks the Philippine government to respond to the aspects of training, examination and issuance of certificates, which are mostly addressed to PRC.

Some of these are the required amendment to board resolutions on certain requirements for second and third mate and fourth engineer, process of assessment of competence for deck and engine officers, and summary of the new types of examinations.

The IMO also requires PRC to provide and review procedures for the use and monitoring of training record books while MTC needs to provide an updated directory of accredited training programs.

For CHED, the commission is being asked to provide explanation on the actual situation with regard to simulator used at accredited maritime schools and how it approves maritime programs that only partially meet the standards.