05 July 2011
Filipino seafarers are getting a boost from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as it unveils a training and assessment program that would link major players in the maritime industry and create a pool of trainers and assessors to upgrade their capabilities and increase job opportunity.
TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva said the agency is sailing on new heights with a comprehensive program for the country's seafarers, who are said to comprise among the biggest number worldwide.
"We want to enhance our training and assessment program to make them more equipped and skilled as they set sail all over the globe," Villanueva said.
"Being ambassadors of excellence, dedication and professionalism in the maritime industry and one of the pillars in keeping afloat the economy, Filipino seafarers deserve all the help that government can give," he added.
President Benigno Aquino III recently declared June 25 of every year as “Day of the Filipino Seafarer” in recognition of their contribution to the country.
In Proclamation No. 183, the President directed the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) to lead the commemoration of the special day for the Filipino sailors. Other relevant maritime agencies were also asked to support the observance of the important event.
Despite the growing demand for seamen worldwide, Villanueva notes the shortage of qualified Filipino marine officers because of lack of opportunity for their training and upgrading of their existing qualifications.
In February, TESDA invited major players of the maritime industry in a consultation meeting to know their concerns and to be able to plan and provide necessary policies to beef up the industry, specifically concerning the quality of the labor force.
TESDA has created a technical working group (TWG) in maritime that set its sights on the possibility of creating a single pool of assessors and trainers to offer seafarers a one-stop shop where they can train, re-train or upgrade their skills, and then later on undergo assessment and certification to raise their value in the job market.
The TWG will also review the training regulations (TR) in Watchkeeping Deck, Watchkeeping Engine, AB Deck, AB Engine, and Electro Technical Rating to ensure it complies with the International yardstick set under the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).
To date, there are some 71 training institutions nationwide offering 142 programs for deck and engine ratings.
All these training institutions are authorized by TESDA to offer maritime education programs based on compliance with the minimum standards set by the provision of the STWC Convention.
The Commission on Higher Education handles the training and education concerns of maritime students.
The examination and licensing, competency assessment and certification of marine officers are handled by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
"TESDA will work with CHED on a seamless maritime education and training program where the ratings course is articulated to the officers program that will most certainly address this burning issue of shortage of workers and provide our experienced ratings the opportunity for career advancement," according to the TESDA chief.
Coordination among concerned various agencies will also improve the curriculum and offer new technologies and methodologies in maritime education and training in the Philippine context, Villanueva added.
There are about 300,000 Filipino seamen deployed in almost every port and ship in the world.
Filipino mariners sent home a record $2.5bn for the first nine months of 2009
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