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THE
Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) wants the role of
government agencies in the deployment and training of
seafarers streamlined, as the domestic shipping industry
is facing a shortage of maritime crew members.
In an
interview last week,
Marina
administrator Vicente Suazo Jr. said he would be
presenting to Malacañang some measures to streamline the
process which, in turn, would give the shipping
regulator more participation in the process of deploying
seafarers.
Suazo
said that for instance, before a cadet can take his
shipboard training, he would have to secure a
certificate of competency from the Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).
“But the
cadet does not need that certificate because he has not
yet boarded a vessel, and that’s what he was supposed to
learn from shipboard training,” Suazo said.
Suazo
said he has asked some maritime schools to help track
all the agencies that a seafarer has to go through
before he can board a vessel for work, which may include
some government- accredited training center.
Before a
cadet can finish a course of either BS Marine Technology
or BS Marine Engineering and take a licensure
examination, he has to undergo three or four years in
school and then a year onboard a vessel.
After
securing a license, he also has to undergo training
before he can work onboard.
Suazo
counted at least 15 agencies, including a licensure
examination, that a seafarer has to go through before he
can board a vessel for work, and every step or training
entails corresponding fees.
Suazo
said he sought Malacañang’s help to streamline the
process as agencies all want to retain their share.
Marina’s
role has been limited to issuing the seaman’s book, and
the rest of the process is handled by various agencies
of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Suazo
said that in order to help the cadets find more
opportunities to take their shipboard training,
Marina
will require all qualified ships with tonnages of at
least 500 gross tons to accommodate and train four deck
and four engine cadets from accredited maritime
institutions.
At the
moment,
Marina only requires vessels to accept two cadets each for deck and
engine positions.
“This
program will, in part, meet the growing shortage of
marine deck and engine officers in the domestic and
international maritime community,” he said.
Marina
earlier said it is crafting an integrated
manpower-development plan aimed at strengthening the
country’s position as one of the top sources of
seafarers in the world.
Since
last year Marina said it is the agency, not the DOLE,
that should be taking care of some issues regarding the
country’s seafarers, since it is the country’s flag
state.
Suazo
argued that when a sea mishap occurs which involves
Filipino seafarers, the first ones to be informed are
officials of Marina and not the DOLE.
The DOLE
responded, however, by saying changing the present
system could cause a stir in the international community
and create confusion on which Philippine agency to talk
to on matters regarding Filipino seafarers’ welfare.
An
estimated 300,000 Filipino seafarers onboard oceangoing
vessels remit to the Philippines about $4 billion
annually. Total remittances from about 8 million
overseas Filipino workers last year reached $14.44
billion. |
