OWWA sets aside P50-M to train marine officers

MANILA, Philippines - To catch up with the growing global demand for marine officers, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration has set aside P50 million for skills training and upgrading of Filipino seafarers.

Mechanics of the program is still being ironed out, including partner agencies for its implementation, according to OWWA administrator Marianito Roque, who had been concurrently designated as acting secretary of labor.

“We want to give assurance to our global employers that we have competent officers and that we are addressing this shortage of officers," Roque told reporters at the sidelines of the signing of the memorandum of agreement with industry leaders and the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE)-Establishing a Maritime Industry Arbitration System.

Based on a recent study, the shipping industry has a shortage of 10,000 marine and deck officers.

Roque said the government wants to keep the country’s status in the global maritime industry as top supplier of competent seafarers and officers because of threats from other countries supplying seamen, such as China, Vietnam and Cambodia.

The program is aiming to attract graduating high school students, graduates of other engineering courses and seafarers across the country to upgrade their skills for better employment prospects.

"We are assessing the situation kaya ang ating tinitingnan sa program na ito ay iyong the next five years. Gusto nating ipakita na ngayon ang focus naman natin ay ang ating seafarers," Roque said.

A “study now, pay later" plan is being considered for the program, according to OWWA deputy administrator Noriel Devanadera.

An interested student may initially avail of up to P30,000 loan under the program to finance his studies.

“We have no full details yet but we are planning to tie up with shipping companies so that our students will be employed immediately upon completion of the program so we could be able to recover our investment," Devanadera explained.

The P50-million allotment comes in the heels of allegations of mishandling the OWWA trust fund that has been estimated at $10 billion, generated from the $25 contributions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for every two-year contract.

A committee of the House of Representatives is conducting an audit of the OWWA funds. - GMANews.TV

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