CHEd has authority over maritime schools – Marina

CHEd has authority over maritime schools – Marina
Raffy Ayeng February 23, 2020 https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/02/23/news/top-stories/ched-has-authori...

THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) admitted that only the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) had the authority to “discuss matters related to maritime schools” as it denied reports that it prematurely unveiled a list of schools that would be shut down.

“Allow us to set the record straight that the Marina, from the very beginning, has continually emphasized that the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) is the only proper authority to discuss matters related to maritime schools. The information stated on those articles were not publicly pronounced, volunteered, nor were given to any media outlet,” the agency said on its Facebook page.

It added that since September 2019, the maritime agency and CHEd have been conducting joint inspections of maritime schools to ensure compliance with the standards set by the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention, of which the Philippines is a signatory.

“Although Marina has the shared mandate with CHEd to conduct inspections of maritime schools on matters relating to full compliance with the STCW Convention, it is but CHEd which has the authority to take action on matters concerning maritime higher education, based on recommendations made by Marina,” the agency said.

Marina also clarified that officials of the agency “had not appeared in hearings with the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation to discuss the matter BEFORE the publication of the said articles.”

“It is also untrue that Marina officials were quizzed by legislators regarding inspections during the said non-existent HOR (House of Representatives) hearing as reported in the articles. In fact, it was only on February 19 that Marina and CHEd attended a hearing by Congress to discuss such matters,” it said.