Publisher ’ s Note
MARINA ’ s efforts need to be fully recognized
A s the government agency responsible for seafarer upliftment , professionally-speaking , MARINA has , in the past few months alone , come up with a number of measures , advisories and assessments . These include ratings for ETOs and ETRs , improved training courses and other campaigns aimed at making the Philippines be compliant to the STCW 2010 Manila Amendments . One of the main reasons why such programs continue at a very fast pace is the fact that the Philippines was not able to reach the standards set by the European Maritime Safety Agency ( EMSA ), considered one of the most stringent in the world . To correct this imbalance , EMSA has scheduled its audit and has even come up with a panel of experts in preparation for audit and accreditation of training institutions and programs to cope up with such standards . The more foreign companies rely on Filipinos as seafarers , the more the needs to upgrade and enhance their skills . True , learning is a never-ending process that can be beneficial to level up the much-needed proficiency levels that are also prerequisites to hone the competitive , yes-we-can and are-ready-to-face-new-challenges spirit of our seafarers . And MARINA deserves recognitions for all its efforts , whatever the odds may be . But up to how more is more that they should be doing their mandated responsibilities to the maritime industry ?
PHILIP O . ORTALEZA
4