A resilient PAMI takes the lead to a sustainable maritime education

A resilient PAMI takes the lead to a sustainable maritime education
Brenda V. Pimentel February 24, 2021 https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/02/24/business/maritime-business/a-resi...

That was the theme adopted by the Philippine Association of Maritime Institutions (PAMI) for its 46th Annual Convention held last February 17, 2021. PAMI, unfazed by the challenges brought about by the covid-19 pandemic, remains naively optimistic the state of affairs in the maritime education sector will improve in the coming days.

PAMI’s confidence is founded on the goodwill established among the various stakeholders of maritime education, both in government and the industry. The regular consultations initiated by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Congress, PAMI, and other industry stakeholders demonstrate their earnest efforts to cooperate in resolving the problems confronting the sector. There is an obvious departure from the approach of drawing a clear barrier between the regulator and the regulated community which hardly resolved outstanding industry issues.

PAMI’s bringing together MARINA, the MARINO Party-list, the Joint Manning Group (JMG) and the Philippine Inter-island Shipping Association (PISA) was but one of the many initiatives where these stakeholders tried to put together their thoughts on the challenges confronting Philippine maritime education, not limited to those resulting out of the pandemic, but more so to provide valuable inputs for strategic planning.

MARINA Administrator, RADM Robert Empedrad confirmed his commitment to continuously engage the stakeholders as the agency deals with the immediate concerns of the country’s maritime education. Known for his disposition to listen, Administrator Empedrad has gained the respect and acknowledgment of many in the maritime education sector. From one who once worked in MARINA, he revived in me the pride of having a Head of an agency who values his staff and personnel through generous acknowledgment of their contribution. Yet, he affirms his uncompromising policy of zero-tolerance on corruption.

MARINO Party-list represented in the Convention by Cong. Macnel Lusotan is PAMI’s partner in the House of Representatives. Cong. Lusotan gave updates on the status of House Bill No. 272 on the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers which was approved by the Lower House and subsequently endorsed to the Senate in January 2021. Although HB No. 272 has deleted many extraneous provisions in the previously drafted bill, the provision requiring maritime higher education institutions to demonstrate that for over the last three years, at least sixty percent (60%) of their maritime students were able to secure cadet berths has been ominously retained.

Cong. Lusotan cited a draft bill on Maritime Education Act which the MARINO Party-list will sponsor in the Lower House. Without me concurring with legislating the carrying capacity for cadet berths, the MARINO Party-list could help by calling for the deletion of the afore-mentioned provision of HB No. 272, possibly during the bicameral meeting on the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers and instead propose the consideration of said provision in the discussions of the draft Maritime Education Act.

Insights shared by JMG’s Mr. Eric Marquez and PISA’s Atty. Peter Aguilar were enlightening as well as encouraging even as the shipping and manning sectors are coping with the disruption created by the pandemic. They clearly articulated industry support for expanding the capacity for cadet berths and cited the current circumstances obtaining in both international and domestic shipping which gives the maritime education sector in general and PAMI in particular valuable advice when dealing with the issue of onboard training.

At the Senate, it is reassuring as Senator Christopher Lawrence Go expressed his support for the maritime industry in his opening address to the PAMI Convention. Indeed, the PAMI annual convention is not just an ordinary event for the Association member-institutions; it is for PAMI an event that allowed them to have a meaningful dialogue with their partners in government and the private sector.

There were ideas and insights which need follow-through and further work. Hopefully, these will not lapse as just some documented encounter.