Metro Manila (CNN Philippine, April 2) — In a bid to develop world-class Filipino seafarers, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday vowed to provide solutions to issues facing the Philippine maritime industry.
“Gagawin natin ang lahat upang mabigyan natin ng solusyon ang mga isyung kinakaharap ng ating maritime industry, upang patuloy tayong mag-develop ng mga world-class at magagaling na seafarers para sa buong mundo,” he said.
[Translation: We will do everything we can to provide solutions to the issues facing our maritime industry, so that we can continue to develop world-class and skilled seafarers for the whole world.]
On Friday, the European Commission (EC) had decided to continue recognizing certificates for Filipino seafarers, citing that the country has made serious efforts to comply with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for seafarers (STCW).
READ: PH welcomes EU decision on Filipino seafarers, vows to work on areas for improvement
Around 50,000 Filipino seafarers were at risk of losing their jobs if the country had failed to secure a favorable decision from the EC, the president said.
Following the commission’s decision, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople said the number of Filipino seafarers is now expected to increase not only in the EU but throughout the world, adding that the decision was a “vote of confidence” for the Philippines.
According to the DMW, the number of deployed Filipino seafarers in 2022 stood at 490,000, a more than 80% increase from the 270,000 seafarers deployed in 2020.
Meanwhile, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista said the agency is “committed to address the remaining areas identified by EC that require further improvement.”
The six deficiencies of the country that were pointed out by the EU are: monitoring and training assessment, course design, training facility and simulators, on board training, and issuing of certificates.
The EU also said it intends to provide the Philippines with technical assistance to further improve its education, training and certification system for seafarers in the coming months.
