After getting an extension of the Philippines’ maritime education, the administration of Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is prepared with its plans and programs to efficiently address the six deficiencies identified by the European Commission in the country’s maritime and seafaring sector.
Joni Gesmundo, Department of Transportation (DOTr) spokesperson, said that although the European Commission has yet to set a deadline for meeting the EU level standards, the Philippines’ Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) would be closely coordinating to address these deficiencies.
“Wala pang deadline. Dahil nga kagabi lang ito, ngayon ay kailangang mag-usap na ang European Commission at ang MARINA, siguro involve na rin ang Department of Transportation para ilatag nga iyong mga susunod na hakbang including addressing these six deficiencies,” Gesmundo said on Saturday during a news forum in Quezon City.
Earlier, the European Commission Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport said with the help of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), it had identified six areas of deficiencies in the maritime education, training and certification for seafarers of the Philippine government.
These were in areas of monitoring, supervision and evaluation of training and assessment; examination and assessment of competence; program and course design and approval; availability and use of training facilities and simulators; on-board training; and issue, revalidation and registration of certificates and endorsements.
However, after reassessing the response and actions of the Philippine government, the European Commission decided to extend its recognition of the Philippine government’s maritime education, training, and certification for seafarers.
Gesmundo said before they had been focusing on improving the training and the types of equipment in maritime schools in the country to improve the quality of their graduates.
“Naka-focus sa mga training schools, sa mga kursong ibinibigay ng training schools – iyong paikot doon eh. Iyon bang inyong mga professor, ano ang kanilang qualifications? Ano ang gamit ninyo? Mayroon ba kayong mga facilities doon sa loob ng schools ninyo? Marami iyon, so malawak iyong dating tiningnan at ngayon ay natitira na lang ay anim na deficiencies,” the DOTr official noted.
“So nagsagawa naman ang MARINA ng mga hakbang para nga ma-address iyon at nakatuon nga sila diyan sa mga maritime schools para tingnan [kung] sapat ba ‘yung inyong [kaalaman at kagamitan]… Kasi it is more of kung paano pag-aangkupin iyong pinag-aaralan at iyong pangangailangan doon sa barko,” Gesmundo added.
The DoTr spox also pointed out that the European Commission’s report has been an eye-opener for MARINA which resulted in close coordination with the concerned government agencies and stakeholders.
“So, iyon ho ‘yung nakita naming magandang kinalabasan na nai-point out sa MARINA, ang inyong kakulangan; nagkakaroon ho ngayon ng pag-uusap at coordination ang mga ibang ahensiya,” Gesmundo said. #
