DFA, DOTr, MARINA urged to report on PH compliance with EMSA findings

DFA, DOTr, MARINA urged to report on PH compliance with EMSA findings
Charissa Luci-Atienza December 12, 2019 https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/12/12/dfa-dotr-marina-urged-to-report-on-ph-...

Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento urged government agencies to apprise the House of Representatives on the status of the country’s compliance with the findings of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).

He specifically asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) , the Department of Transportation (DOTr) , and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to report on the status of the EMSA findings and discuss the actions undertaken to resolve the issues cited by the EMSA.

“Being a member of the IMO (International Maritime Organization) Council and a party to the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (SCTW) Convention, the country is obligated to demonstrate strict and full compliance with international maritime standards, ” Sarmiento, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, said.

He filed House Resolution No. 590 urging the DFA, DoTr, and MARINA to provide the House Committee on Transportation with the reports on the country’s compliance with the EMSA findings and the necessary measures being implemented to address the issues cited in the audit.

“The EMSA audit results last March 2019 indicated that the country needs to address several issues including compliance with the SCTW,” Sarmiento noted under HR 590.

He said the EMSA conducts regular audits to determine, on behalf of the members of the European Union, whether the Philippines is in compliance with the SCTW Convention.

“Compliance with the SCTW standards allows our seafarers to work on ships of other nations,” he pointed out.

The Philippines has over 700,000 maritime professionals, with 400,000 seafarers deployed in international seas, Sarmiento said.

“The results of the re-evaluation of the country’s compliance with the SCTW will be released by the first quarter of 2020,” he added.

Under HR 590, the House leader cited the crucial role of EMSA as one of the EU’s decentralized agencies.

“The EMSA aims to provide technical assistance and support to the European Commission and member-states in the development and implementation of EU legislation on maritime safety, pollution by ships, and maritime security,” he said.

On September 21, 2018, President Duterte issued Executive Order No. 63 empowering MARINA to address the issues regarding the SCTW Convention.