Crisis averted: 50,000 Philippine seafarers keep jobs

EC to continue recognizing Philippine certificates

MANILA, Philippines — Around 50,000 Filipino sailors working on European Union-flagged ships can heave a sigh of relief after the European Commission (EC) decided to continue recognizing their safety certifications issued by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

On its website, the EC Directorate General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) announced on Friday its decision to consider the safety certifications issued by MARINA.

Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean cited “constructive cooperation” with Philippine authorities and their “efforts to improve the system for training and certifying seafarers.”

“Today, the European Commission has decided to continue recognizing certificates for seafarers issued by the Philippines, one of the world’s largest maritime labor supply countries,” the announcement read.

MARINA administrator Hernani Fabia said the “EC’s decision is a nod to the serious efforts taken by the country since the first EMSA inspection back in 2006.” EMSA stands for European Maritime Safety Agency.

Valean maintained the Philippines provides a significant part of the European and global shipping industry’s maritime workforce, with roughly 50,000 Filipino masters and officers currently working on EU-flagged ships.

The Philippines is the largest maritime labor supplier in the world with 345,000 deployed in 2022. They remitted around $6.7 billion or around P341 billion in 2022.

“The Philippines can count on our technical support to further improve the implementation and oversight of minimum education, training and certification requirements, as well as living and working conditions,” she added.

In December 2021, following a detailed assessment of the training and certification system in place in the Philippines, the Commission announced it would withdraw its recognition of seafarer certificates issued to Filipino sailors unless serious measures for improvement were taken, including compliance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).

In the coming months, the Commission intends to provide the Philippines with technical assistance so it could further improve its education, training and certification system for seafarers, as discussed between EC president Ursula von der Leyen and President Marcos, on the sidelines of the EU-ASEAN summit last December.

“The European Commission conveyed its decision to continue recognizing certificates issued by the Philippines for its Filipino seafarers, particularly Filipino marine officers onboard European-registered vessels,” Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said.

“We are deeply elated by this decision, confirming we have adequately addressed many of the findings of the European Maritime Safety Agency,” he said. MARINA is an attached agency of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

“This milestone development in the Philippine maritime industry augurs well for the future of Filipino seafarers who comprise the world’s largest maritime labor,” he said.

Bautista also assured the EC that the Philippines, through the DOTr and MARINA, will address the issues raised by the commission.

“As the EC lauded our cooperation and welcomed our efforts at improving the Philippine system of training and certifying Filipino seafarers, we commit to address the remaining areas identified by EC that require further improvement,” the transport chief said.

“Rest assured we will not waver in our efforts to raise the level of expertise of our seamen to international standards,” he added.

Crisis averted

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said that with the EC decision, a crisis has been averted.

“With this decision, a crisis of monumental proportions has just been averted as 50,000 jobs of Filipino masters and officers aboard European vessels have been saved,” said DMW Secretary Susan Ople in a statement.

“Our seafarers are among the best in the world and this decision by the EU Commission reflects that,” she said.

“The DMW vows to work even harder for the protection of the rights and welfare of our seafarers and their families.”

She also expressed the DMW’s “most sincere gratitude” to the EC for its decision to continue recognizing Filipino seafarers’ certificates.

“We look forward to the start of technical cooperation between the Philippines and EC in professionalizing and further improving the skills of Filipino seafarers,” she said.

Sen. Grace Poe said the EC decision was timely, as the country cannot afford a massive job loss amid a global economic turmoil.

“During this turbulent period of the global economy, we cannot afford job losses that will bring economic difficulties to millions of families,” Poe said.

“As Filipino seafarers remain the preferred choice in the EU region, we should embark on continuous skills training to increase the viability of our workers,” she added.

“The government and private sector should step up efforts to use the period allowed by the EU to boost training and seriously heed the issues raised by the European Maritime Safety Agency,” she pointed out. “The quality of our maritime education will ensure the safety of travelers and secure the future of many Filipino seafarers’ families.”

No letup

Despite the positive development, there should be no letup in government efforts to innovate and implement reforms in the sector, according to Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

“Our government agencies deserve praise for their efforts in bringing about this positive development for our seafarers. Thanks to the collaboration of the inter-agency task force, somehow our sailors will have peace of mind,” she said.

“Let us continue to push for industry-wide reforms. We should draw lessons from this experience, which has threatened the livelihood of our seafarers,” she pointed out.

Hontiveros said the government should take note that most of the EC’s negative findings were due to deficiencies in the education system. “We call on the Commission on Higher Education and the MARINA to continue to remedy such deficiencies,” she said.

“Ultimately, as a lawmaker, I will continue to advocate for the passage of the Magna Carta of Seafarers, which will protect and advance the rights and well-being of our seafarers.”

In separate statements, Kabayan partylist Rep. Ron Salo and OFW partylist Rep. Marissa Magsino said the EC decision has proven the competence of Filipino seafarers.

“The decision of the European Commission is a testament to the competence and efficiency of our seafarers and the quality of training and education they have received,” Salo, chairman of the House committee on overseas workers affairs, said.

He said the development “reflects the efforts of the Philippine government in ensuring compliance of the country’s maritime education and training with the standards set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).”

“I thank the European Commission for recognizing the value of Philippine seafarers and for their decision to continue recognizing our seafarer certificates. This decision will certainly help alleviate the worries and fears our seafarers are currently facing,” he maintained.

Magsino, for her part, called the EC decision a “victory for the Filipino seafarers.”

“Our Filipino seafarers raise high and proud the banner of our country in wherever shore they reach. Their significant contributions to the national economy, made possible by their personal sacrifices, make them our modern-day heroes,” she added. – Rhodina Villanueva, Sheila Crisostomo, Robertzon Ramirez