MARINA OIC confident in producing more competent Filipino Seafarers in the future

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) officer-in-charge Nicasio Conti recently assured international shipping companies that the Philippine government is keen on continuously producing more qualified and competent seafarers.

The MARINA officer said that all efforts and programs being implemented by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) under the stewardship of Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II are geared toward improving the quality of Filipino seafarers.

“One out every four seafarers in the international seaborne trade is a Filipino. That is why all our efforts are geared toward ensuring that the Philippines will remain number one in providing qualified and competent seafarers worldwide – and we are committed to remain number one,” Conti said during the National Shipping Industry Conference held in Melbourne, Australia as he read his paper entitled In his paper entitled “Maritime Workforce Innovation in the Philippines”.

Conti also explained other reforms currently being implemented for Filipino seafarers including Manila’s Amendment to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers, efforts to ratify and implement the 2006 Maritime Labor Convention or MLC 2006, and the ratification of the Seafarers Identity Document Convention.

These changes include the enhancement of existing human capacity and the re-engineering of the regulatory framework to make it consistent with international practice pursuant to Executive Order No. 75 issued and signed by Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III designating DOTC, through the MARINA, as the single and central maritime administration for STCW.