Maritime players urged to enhance Philippine education system

Maritime players urged to enhance education system
Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat May 28, 2019 https://business.mb.com.ph/2019/05/28/maritime-players-urged-to-enhance-...

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has urged stakeholders to cooperate in enhancing the country’s maritime education and training (MET) system at the “Usapang STCW”.

“Keeping the position of the Philippines as a major source of quality and highly-competent maritime workforce is our national mission. The MARINA is totally focused on achieving substantial transformation to uplift the standard of our maritime industry, especially our MET system. On behalf of the Philippine government, I am urging you to do your big part as well,” MARINA OIC Vice Admiral Narciso Vingson Jr. said.

Moreover, The Marina OIC emphasized that the upgrading of MET standards is essential in sustaining the Philippines’ stance as the top country of choice in the seafaring industry amidst the increasing competition in the international maritime community.

Finally, Vice Admiral Vingson assured stakeholders that the agency is always open for constructive dialogues to come up with progressive policies for the welfare of the Filipino seafarers and other maritime partners, as envisioned in the 10-year maritime industry development plan (MIDP).

The Usapang STCW is a regular activity of the Marina intended to update stakeholders and to discuss recommendations to improve the country’s MET system.

In this particular session of the Usapang STCW, the Marina discussed the enhancement of the qualification of maritime training instructors and assessors to ensure quality and productive learning experience for Filipino seafarers, as well as the obligation of maritime training institutions in the delivery of training programs, as mandated by the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention 1978, as amended.

The Marinatackled the prescription of minimum training standards on mandatory courses which is one of the major actions taken by the Philippines to address the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) audit report. This measure is implemented to ensure that the country’s MET are structured in accordance with written programs, methods, as well as media of delivery, procedures, and course materials necessary for the achievement of the prescribed standards of competence under the STCW Convention 1978, as amended.