MARINA submits "2022 Philippine Response — our strategic actions in addressing the EMSA Audit"

Our work has just begun – Marina chief
CIH March 30, 2022 https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/03/30/business/maritime/our-work-has-ju...

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The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) was able to beat the March 10, 2022 deadline imposed by the European Commission (EC) for the submission of the country's corrective actions, but efforts to address the findings of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) is a work in progress, Marina administrator Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad said.

He announced during a recent informal meeting with some members of the maritime press that he just made public the over 200-page document titled, "2022 Philippine Response — our strategic actions in addressing the EMSA Audit," that the maritime administration submitted to the EC.

"It is already available online," the Marina chief said.

It was the first time maritime authorities shared with the industry the steps and measures they adopted or planned to implement to rectify the deficiencies identified by EMSA in the country's compliance with the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended.

Empedrad, a strong believer in transparency in governance, explained that the rationale behind the initiative to make the corrective actions public is to open it to further improvement so that industry stakeholders can have a closer look at the document and propose necessary enhancements.

"Our work in ensuring that we develop the industry further has just begun," the Marina administrator said. "It is time that we continue to work together, to work harder, to work smarter toward the betterment of the Philippine maritime sector."

Before this, he also shared with industry players mainly maritime education and training providers as well as the manning sector the EMSA official report based on its February-March 2020 inspection that identified over 40 shortcomings in the implementation of the STCW Convention in the country.

The maritime administration immediately reached out to the industry to solicit input on how to address these shortcomings by conducting several public consultations.

The approach which was welcomed by stakeholders was in sharp contrast to the practice in the past when only a handful of so-called experts on the STCW Convention were involved in preparing for the country's response to the EMSA inspection report.

He thanked the industry stakeholders for their invaluable contributions in crafting the corrective actions, making it a product of collaboration between the maritime administration and the private sector.

"We thank you for helping us deliver the most compelling and comprehensive 2022 Philippine Response to the European Commission's Assessment Report," the administrator said.

At the same time, he also thanked EMSA and the EC "for providing us the impetus to stand up and take notice of our areas for improvement," an opportunity to plug some loopholes in the country's enforcement of the STCW Convention and, thus, a chance to improve Philippine maritime education and training.

"We could not have submitted this report without your guidance, support and assistance throughout. For this alone, we are forever grateful," he said.

The administrator said he expects the EC to decide on the fate of Filipino seafarers' certificates later this year.