The House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs launched an investigation into seafarers’ compliance with training standards after learning that thousands of seafarers were in danger of losing their European certification.

The committee’s chairman, Rep. Ron Salo of the KABAYAN Partylist, has invited key government agencies for a briefing on how well the Philippines complies with the standards set forth in the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention), particularly those that have been identified by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) of the European Union (EU).

Salo noted that due to the inability of the concerned Philippines agencies to implement reforms since the first assessment done in 2006, 40,000 to 50,000 of Filipino seafarers working on European vessels are in danger of losing their certification by the EMSA.

“It is high time that we take compliance with the STCW Convention seriously, as this will ultimately cost the livelihood of thousands of our Filipino seafarers,” he emphasized. 

Apart from job losses in the seafaring and manning industries, overseas Filipino workers (OFW) cash remittances from all sea-based OFWs averaged P376.12 billion over a five-year period, according to Migrant Workers Assistant Secretary Jerome Pampolina. This sum is also at risk if the country does not meet the minimum global standards for maritime education, training, and certification.

He proposed developing a tripartite roadmap to boost the Philippines’ competitiveness as the best source of maritime workers and officers.

As for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega reaffirmed that the agency has been closely coordinating with EU member states to facilitate discussions about STCW compliance with the EMSA. The DFA promised to continue defending the country’s STCW status through diplomatic channels.

“We always present to the EU how important and competent our seafarers are, and that it is a mutually beneficial matter for us to be certified. We also discuss this with the European maritime companies because they want to continue hiring Filipino seafarers,” he said.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), on the other hand, highlighted the solution of imposing of a 5-year moratorium on the opening of new marine transportation and marine engineering programs and the institutionalization of national maritime admission examinations, and the phasing out of non-compliant programs.

Salo requested that the Philippine Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) present all 23 EMSA findings, as well as the compliance measures put in place by the relevant government agencies. MARINA classified these items into six critical inspection areas.

According to Samuel Batalla, officer in charge of the MARINA’s Office of the Executive Director, only a few requirements must be met, such as completing the curricula for the maritime education programs by the end of December.

Salo also criticized the maritime programs’ shifting curricula, pointing out the lack of coordination with MARINA and CHED.

“These are already recurring issues when it comes to curriculum. Sasabihin ng MARINA, CHED ang may hawak, tapos pag tinanong natin ang CHED, sasabihin ang MARINA naman. So sino ba talaga, at the end of the day?” Salo observed.

The changes, according to CHED, are a response to the noncompliance findings. Salo is dissatisfied with the response, noting that the STCW has not been consistently followed in terms of the maritime education curriculum since 2006.

“Kung paulit-ulit na lang na issue ang compliance ng ating curriculum, dapat matagal nang na-address yan. The education sector should definitely know better,” Salo quipped.

Batalla, however, asserted that MARINA is certain that the corrective measures they are taking will ensure STCW compliance and keep the Philippines’ certification from being revoked by the EMSA.

Salo, on the other hand, questioned MARINA’s plan to impose a moratorium, pointing out that the issue is that schools are not adhering to the curriculum.

He asked why everyone else should suffer because of the shortcomings of non-compliant schools. “There is a disconnect … Kung curriculum ang issue, bakit ganito kahirap i-comply yan? Kung ang concern natin ay pagbalanse ng interes ng mga stakeholders, sino ba dapat ang bigyan ng higit na halaga? Siyempre ang kailangan nating pahalagahan ay ang buong industriya, hindi ang iilang institutions lang.” 

Batalla assured the committee that they are consolidating the recommendations of the technical working group for EMSA, which has been collaborating with MARINA for many years, as well as the recommendations of experts from staffing organizations and training and assessment centers.

As a final point, Salo reaffirmed his committee’s commitment to ensuring STCW compliance in order to maintain Filipino seafarers’ employment.

“Please be assured that our committee will exercise our power of oversight on this matter. This is important for each and everyone of us and we will definitely be present in those particular audits that will be conducted to ensure our compliance with all the conventions that the Philippines is a signatory to,” Salo concluded.

Photo Credit: Maritime Industry Authority official website