TIM eMagazine Vol . 2 Issue 4
But amidst the very strong whys , it is so unfair to conclude that not much has been done under the helm of Capt . Diaz during his tenure of less than one year
90 percent of certificates were handed out .
Then there is the dilemma involving the issuance of fake documents , mostly from Cebu , of which Capt . Diaz personally did his probing . After prompting a meeting with companies involved in this mess of which he informed those present of high fees for fake papers , he asked each of those in charge of those companies to produce their official documents with signatories for both authentification and verification , and tracked down those involved in issuing these fake documents . In the end , no fake certificated were issued under his leadership .
In a similar light , as part of his drive to combat corruption , he dismissed employees within the SCTW office who were alleged for under-the-table transactions per person from an entity that issued fake documents .
Competence-wise , Capt . Diaz must be lauded for initiating the publication of the so-called ‘ test questions ’ to be mastered by both deck and engineer officers-to-be for their licensure — similar to those being practiced in other countries , particularly in the US which has long been enforced by its Coast Guard .
Though such test questions could have been revealed to the public way back even before the onset of the new millennium , during those days , these were kept under wraps and were administered by the PRC who , in turn , supported review centres and issued professional licences . However , some of these centres got leaks from PRC . But all these has changed , thanks to Capt . Diaz ’ s efforts which was accomplished in a span of three months . Moreover , MARINA had published , in accordance with R . A . 10635 ( which designated it as the agency in charge of SCTW enforcement in the Philippines ) these test questions on its own website .
It was no easy task doing clean-ups at the SCTW even at this point when corrupt practices still proliferate ; the practices that prevent processes that are supposed to be legal from being done , and the practices that highly question the capabilities and proficiencies of those applicants to be certified through the easy way out , even if these involved ‘ sacrificing for the sake of handing out huge sums .’ These same applicants , who resort to back-door activities , had managed to pass certain licensure requirements even though they did not deserve their passing marks !
These practices proved so unfair to those who had to brave things the legal and hard way to earn their marks , ranks and ratings . But let us also be fortunate that amidst all the maze of wires that had to be entangled , drastic yet practical steps had been done by capable and dedicated fellows like Capt . Ely Diaz who knew how to sort things out and straighten some of these wires .
Many could not awake from the shock of Capt . Diaz ’ s sudden departure as SCTW top man . At the same time , let us wish his successor all the best to carry out what his predecessor started .
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