Drilon seeks maritime industry reforms

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Franklin Drilon has urged the swift passage of a bill seeking to place the training and certification of over 400,000 Filipino seafarers under the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to prevent their blacklisting in the European Union.

“Our seafarers face an imminent threat that, if not addressed urgently, will in all likelihood capsize our maritime industry,” he said.

In a sponsorship speech last Tuesday, Drilon said he was concerned over the possible repercussions of the country’s failure to comply with the 2010 Manila Amendments to the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers.

The STCW Convention sets the global minimum qualifications for masters, officers and watch personnel engaged in international shipping.

At present, STCW functions are lodged in various agencies like the Professional Regulation Commission, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Science and Technology, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and National Telecommunication Commission.

Drilon said an employment ban on Filipino seafarers would cause sizable damage to the Philippine economy.

“We have to remember that remittances from sea-based workers – which reached $5 billion in 2012 and for this year alone, is already worth $1.2 billion – keep our economy afloat by fueling domestic consumption, preventing foreign exchange instability, and serving as a buffer against inflation of the peso,” he said.

Drilon said an EU blacklisting could “terribly upset” the country’s position in the global maritime professional industry, and “would negatively affect the estimated 400,000 Filipino sea-based workers employed worldwide.”

“There is a need to align our maritime regulatory system with international standards and practices,” he said.  

“Senate Bill No. 2043 will address the aforementioned concerns through the introduction of major structural changes to our maritime regulatory system that will address the inefficiencies in the current scheme and will therefore ensure our country’s complete compliance with the STCW Convention.

“By designating the MARINA as the sole maritime administrative agency empowered to enact uniform rules and regulations governing global maritime professionals and to regularly monitor our conformity with the STCW Convention, we can now meet standards and avert employment bans.”