Or else Philippines will loose $700 million worth of annual remittances
The Philippines stands to lose $700 million worth of annual remittances from Filipino seamen employed by European flagged vessels unless measures on maritime standards are not complied with, particularly the elimination of “fly by night” maritime schools in the country.
European maritime officials are in the country for a 13-day inspection visit from March 7 to 14 to check the compliance of Philippine maritime schools and government measures to follow their standard rules.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) explained that failure of the Philippines to rectify deficiencies pointed out by the European Maritime Safety Agency (Emsa) will trigger the European Commission’s withdrawal of the EU recognition of certificates issued by the Philippine government to Filipino seamen that will result to refusal of EU flagged vessels to hire Filipino seafarers.
The EU blacklisting will prevent Filipino seafarers from boarding European Union member flagged vessels. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas figures showed that in 2011, Filipino seamen employed by EU member flagged vessels remitted $700 million
In a joint statement late Wednesday, DOLE Maritime Training Center and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said:
“The withdrawal of EU’s recognition could threaten the position of the Philippines in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) ‘white list’ countries that are compliant of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers and will definitely have a detrimental effect not only on the country’s reputation in the international maritime community but also on the nation’s economy,” a joint statement issued by of DOLE and CHED said.
The EMSA audit findings in 2006 found that Philippine maritime schools are not compliant to international standards of training and education for seafarers. Government agencies alluded to the proliferation of “fly by night” maritime schools due to high demand of seafarers abroad.
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said that the Philippines submitted its report on corrective actions taken in compliance with the noted deficiencies by Emsa.
“We welcome this follow up visit as an opportunity for the Philippine government to prove its efforts to continuously improve its maritime education, training and certification system,” said Baldoz. “We have already met and coordinated with all concerned parties involved in the follow up visit to ensure the corrective actions previously reported to Emsa are being implemented.”
The labor chief said that the Philippines is obligated to comply with the mandatory provisions of the STCW. Otherwise, it stands to be delisted from the roster of compliant states and to face adverse consequences to its economy as a result of the EU’s blacklisting of Filipino seamen.
Source: Business Mirror
