SAYS MARITIME GROUP
Too much requirements cause RP sailors to lose edge
By Jerry E. Esplanada
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:26:00 03/27/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino seamen are having problems meeting world seafaring standards, resulting in their displacement by the tens of thousands.
Worse, “the country is in danger of losing up to 180,000 job openings in the next two years if major flaws in the government’s licensure and certification system are not corrected,” warned Capt. Leuel Osena, executive vice president of the Philippine Maritime Institute Alumni Association (PMIAA).
There are some 250,000 Filipino seafarers, including about 90,000 officers, currently on board ocean-going vessels, Osena said.
The nearly million-strong PMIAA has sought President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s “direct and immediate intervention to effect a lasting solution to our concerns.”
In a letter to the President, a copy of which was obtained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the group said: “We want to maintain our edge in world shipping. Unfortunately, we cannot meet the world requirements.”
The PMIAA expressed serious concerns over the Professional Regulation Commission’s (PRC) “jeopardizing the employment of our ship officers by way of its numerous training course requirements which are not mandated by (Republic Act No. 8544).”
“As a result, at least 30,651 officers were unjustly displaced in 2001 and 2002 alone. The pillage continues to this day,” the group said.
It pointed out “the manual written licensure examination conducted by the PRC greatly discourages many potential officers.”
“Confusion reigned when those who passed the written exam but failed the simulator assessment were not issued certificates of competency or COCs. They were not registered and not allowed to practice the profession,” Osena said.
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