Lawmakers to help avert ban on Phl seafarers

MANILA, Philippines - Lawmakers yesterday vowed to support more measures to avert the blacklisting of Filipino seafarers by the European Union (EU), which last month gave the Philippines more time to comply with the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for seafarers.

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier announced that the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) would conduct another audit on the country’s compliance after the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) implemented structural and policy changes to comply with the STCW.

The last EMSA audit was in October. The EMSA had been conducting audits to check on the qualifications of Filipino seafarers working aboard EU-flagged vessels.

Angkla party-list Rep. Jesulito Manalo said the signing of Republic Act 10635 that established the MARINA as the single maritime authority in the country, of which he was the principal author, was one of the reforms acknowledged by the EU.

“Finally, all the joint efforts of the different government agencies and key players of the sector have paid-off,” Manalo said.

He also reiterated his resolve “to ensure the continued employability of the hundreds of thousands of Filipino seafarers, not only on board European vessels, but other international vessels around the globe.”

He said RA 10635 is “merely an initial step we have undertaken in realizing the full potentials of the seafaring industry, as a vehicle to further boost the economy of our country.”

While the EMSA audit report that was presented to EU members discussed the deficiencies that they have identified, it likewise highlighted the measures that the Philippines has undertaken and thus far accomplished in order to rectify these deficiencies, the lawmaker added.