CHED, MARINA need more personnel to monitor compliance

MANILA, Philippines — The government will need additional personnel to monitor the compliance of the country’s maritime educational institutions with international standards for seafarers, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman Prospero de Vera said yesterday.

“We need more people because there are many (maritime schools). (Transportation) Secretary (Jaime) Bautista and I will have to look for additional allies to help monitor compliance. The CHED and the MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority) lack staff and schools are located all over the country,” De Vera said during a Palace press briefing.

The European Commission (EC)’s directorate-general for mobility and transport extended its recognition of the Philippines’ maritime education, training and certification for seafarers after taking note of the country’s efforts in addressing some of its serious deficiencies.

In a letter received on March 31, EC director general Henrik Hololei told MARINA administrator Hernani Fabia that based on the response of Filipino authorities and on all available information, the Commission has concluded that the measures taken demonstrate concrete progress and improvement regarding compliance with the requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers.

De Vera said the Philippine Coast Guard would also help monitor and evaluate all maritime schools in the country.

He said the European Union (EU) has also committed to provide grants to assist the Philippines in addressing the six areas of deficiencies it identified in the country’s maritime and seafaring sector.

These deficiencies are monitoring, supervision and evaluation of manning training and assessment; examination and assessment of competence, programs and course design and approval; availability and use of training facilities and simulators; onboard training and issuance of revalidation and recognition of certification endorsements.

“We are thankful that the EU has promised, as Secretary Bautista had said, it would give grants to assist us to comply,” De Vera said.