Locsin to CHEd: Check maritime schools

Seafarers hit Marina for placing jobs at risk
RAFFY AYENG March 19, 2019 https://www.manilatimes.net/seafarers-hit-marina-for-placing-jobs-at-ris...

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Locsin to CHEd: Check maritime schools

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. urged Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Chairman Prospero “Popoy” de Vera Jr. to promote the welfare of Filipino seafarers by tapping respectable auditors in checking the country’s maritime schools.

“Popoy [de Vera], there’s lotta work out there on the fate of our seafarers on the best paying bottoms — EU (European Union) ships,” Locsin said in his Twitter account.

“It has to do with getting an independent audit of our maritime schools by internationally respected international auditors respected by the EU,” he added.

In October 2018, the CHEd, Marina, Department of Health and Philippine Coast Guard signed the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Executive Order 63 strengthening Marina’s authority in implementing the 1978 STCW.

De Vera had reiterated his agency’s commitment to comply with the 1978 STCW Convention “which can be attained through concerted efforts of government agencies.”

He noted that Philippine maritime education programs “have been under scrutiny” over concerns raised by the EMSA on compliance with the 1978 STCW.

Sen. Joel Villanueva on Monday expressed deep concern over the possibility of the Philippines being dropped from the White List or the list of countries compliant with global maritime standards.

He urged Marina to speed up efforts to update the IMO with the implementation of the revised 1978 STCW and ensure the country’s compliance with this convention in order to protect the jobs of Filipino seafarers.

“On our part, one of the initiatives to address the gap in compliance with the Maritime Labor Convention and the STCW is the passage of Magna Carta of Seafarers,” according to Villanueva, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor.

“We are still in the process of consultation with appropriate stakeholders to ensure that we have a comprehensive version of the bill that will serve the interests of all parties involved in the domestic and international maritime sector,” he said.

Anakpawis party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao also on Monday called on the government to avert the likelihood of being delisted by the IMO.

“First, verify the authenticity of the said document. If indeed true, it is alarming. The government should make necessary efforts to avert any negative consequence,” Casilao told The Manila Times.