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TO
produce more sailors, the
Philippines’
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) has agreed to
recognize nonprofessional seafarers which secured their
licenses from the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina),
the country’s shipping regulator.
In an
agreement signed last May 23, the PRC said it will give
its endorsement to the major patrons, minor patrons, and
the marine diesel mechanics—all of whom have taken their
licensure examinations from Marina—provided that they
satisfy the criteria set by the commission’s
representatives.
The said
agreement, which ends the decade-old feud as to which
among the agencies will issue seafarers’ licenses, takes
effect by mid-June upon publication in the newspapers.
However,
the commission will still be the body to determine how
Marina should conduct its licensure exams.
According to the agreement, the commission’s
Professional Regulatory Board for Marine Deck and Engine
Officers will have the right to review Marina’s adopted
policies and prescribe standards on how to improve the
administration of examinations for major patron, minor
patron and diesel mechanic.
PRC said
it is only following the regulations stated in the
amended 1978 Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping.
Before
nonprofessional seafarers secure their endorsement from
the PRC, they would have to undergo certain tests to
prove his worth.
Two
members from the PRC’s Board will sit as ex-officio
members of the examining panel for nonprofessional
sailors, who, once endorsed, can use their certificates
to work abroad.
For its part,
Marina
will maintain a database of those who passed the exams
and those who were issued certificates by the PRC.
In an
earlier interview, Doris U. Castillo, Marina director
and officer in charge of Manpower Development Office,
explained that the said agreement could augment the
creation of more maritime officers since this will
provide crewmembers knowledgeable in operations.
“The
number of officers is decreasing but there are so many
professionals that go to us [Marina] to convert their
licenses,” Castillo said.
In 1997,
PRC streamlined its operations and stopped offering
licensure examinations to nonprofessional seafarers.
However, other ship crew members are not regarded as
professionals since they either failed to finish their
courses or only completed a two-year course for sailors.
In effect, this produced crewmembers who have no formal
education but who are nevertheless skilled at what
they’re doing. However, they still need licenses before
being allowed to work onboard vessels.
Between
2000 to 2001,
Marina started offering domestic licensure examinations to the
major patrons, minor patrons, boat, captains, marine
diesel mechanics, and the harbor pilots, exactly the
kind of employees which are in great demand. |
