‘Kayod marino’: ‘Tesdaman’ prods MARINA, CHEd to save Pinoy seamen’s jobs

‘Kayod marino’: ‘Tesdaman’ prods MARINA, CHEd to save Pinoy seamen’s jobs
October 30, 2022 https://politics.com.ph/2022/10/30/kayod-marino-tesdaman-prods-marina-ch...

Magkayod marino kayo!

Senate Majority Leader Joel “Tesdaman” Villanueva on Sunday made this call on relevant government agencies as about 50,000 Filipino seamen deployed on European Union (EU) ships were in danger of losing their jobs over the inadequacies in the country’s maritime sector.

Villanueva said the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) should submit to Congress a report on the Philippines’ compliance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).

In a statement, the former chairman of the Senate labor committee said Marina and CHEd should explain why the country had failed to satisfy the STCW requirements since 2006.

“How did we let this go on for so long? Now, the entire industry and people’s livelihoods are in danger,” Villanueva said.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) told the House committee on overseas workers affairs last week that the European Maritime Safety Agency may stop accrediting Filipino seafarers on EU-flagged ships if the Philippines would fail its evaluation next month.

“MARINA and CHEd, in coordination with agencies such as the DMW, should exert all efforts to help the industry and go full speed ahead to support the jobs of our Filipino seafarers,” Villanueva said.

The senator noted that members of the French parliament spoke highly of Filipino mariners during the recent official visit to France of several members of the Senate.

“We need to uphold that sterling reputation by securing the qualifications of our seafarers under European Union standards,” Villanueva reiterated.