Sen. Joel Villanueva sounds off ‘SOS’ for maritime schools

Solon sounds off ‘SOS’ for maritime schools
May 7, 2022 https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/05/07/solon-sounds-off-sosfor-maritim...

SEN. Joel Villanueva has asked the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) to focus on ensuring the quality of Filipino maritime graduates for better employability, and not on curtailing access to maritime schools, as the agency proposed a moratorium on establishing new learning institutions of the latter’s kind.

“Access to education and skills training is as important as raising the quality of education for our maritime schools,” commented Villanueva. “We are denying Filipinos access to quality-assured education and training opportunities with this five-year ban.”

The senator said that adding more new maritime schools can be considered as opportunities for superior maritime institutions to comply with the requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping For Seafarers and global quality assurance standards.

The new maritime education and training providers can be accredited according to program standards and guidelines which, supervised properly, can easily pass any international compliance audit, such as the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).

“The bigger issue is, why are there existing maritime institutions…in the accredited list that [fail the foreign accrediting agencies’ audit]?” the solon asked.

Instead of a complete ban, the Senate committee chair on labor, employment, and human resources development proposed that Marina should ensure standards of both existing and new maritime schools comply with global norms.

“This needs more study and consultation with concerned stakeholders so we can provide grounds for the next [government] to consider and implement,” he said.

The senator aims to strengthen maritime education and training in the country to address the noted deficiencies in a recent EMSA audit. These findings include shortcomings in seafarers’ education system, lack of inspection and evaluation of schools, lack of simulators, and poor on-board training.

A final negative report by the European Commission on the Philippine maritime education system would likely displace thousands of Filipino seafarers serving on European vessels, as the European Union may stop recognizing certificates and permits issued to Filipino seamen from a negative EC report.

“This will be a big blow to the [country’s] reputation as a major supplier of maritime officers and seafarers, and also to the lives and livelihood of Filipino families who are dependent on continuing recognition of the excellence of the Philippine maritime education and training,” said Villanueva.

The Marina reportedly said they submitted last month the agency’s strategic corrective actions to the EMSA to raise the country’s maritime education standards.

Aside from the five-year ban on creating new maritime schools, Marina also said they are implementing several reforms to address issues cited by EMSA. These include hiring more staff to help monitor and evaluate schools as well as training centers for seafarers; automating the agency’s services and applications; and lowering fees for permits and certificates.

Villanueva emphasized the need to pass the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers, or Senate Bill (SB) 2369, into law, as the bill’s main proponent. The measure requires Marina and the Commission on Higher Education to work together to ensure compliance of the country’s maritime schools with global standards, and protect the rights of seafarers in accordance with the country’s international covenants.

The bill is currently pending second reading, as re-electionist Villanueva urged the Senate to support the immediate passage of SB 2369 when session resumes in May after the elections.