VP Binay: PHL to pass October seafarers audit

Vice President Jejomar Binay over the weekend voiced confidence the Philippines will pass the next European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) audit in October, and thus avert a ban by the European Union on Filipino seafarers.

Binay told German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle the Philippines is serious in complying with the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).

“We are confident that the Philippines will pass the next EMSA audit in October this year as there is clear progress towards full compliance with the Convention,” Binay, the presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers concerns, said in a news release posted on the Office of the Vice President website early Sunday.

The STCW Convention sets qualification standards for officers and personnel on seagoing merchant ships.

Last April, the Philippines failed to meet EU standards on maritime education, training and competency certificates, as shown by the EMSA audit last April.

However, Binay said the Philippine government has been taking concrete steps to address the issue. Failure to comply could lead to an EU ban on the hiring of Filipino seamen.

For his part, Westerwelle praised the Philippine economy as a “powerhouse” in the region, recalling his recent official trip to Manila, where he called for expansion of bilateral cooperation across the board.

He voiced satisfaction over his visit to the Döhle Institute in Manila, a maritime center that trains Filipino seafarers.

A roundtable discussion had been held in Hamburg on directions for Philippine-German cooperation, including a possible “maritime strategic alliance” where Binay will be the keynote speaker.

The OVP noted Germany recognizes the Philippines as an important maritime nation, as well as the key role of Filipino seafarers in supporting maritime shipping and trade.

German cooperation

Binay also welcomed cooperation with German stakeholders in the maritime sector to enhance the capacity of maritime training centers in the Philippines.

He said President Benigno Aquino III already issued an executive order that provides a framework to ensure that the Filipino seafarer remains globally competitive.

Also, he proposed the establishment of a joint committee that would be a forum for both countries to exchange views on seafaring industry matters, at the bilateral level.

“By just looking at the figures, US$244 million or 25 percent of all remittances by Filipino seafarers from Europe in 2012 were from Germany,” Binay said.

“This is one good reason why we need maintain the high-level of skills and competence of our seafarers and, in doing so, also help keep the competitive edge of the German commercial shipping industry,” he added. — LBG, GMA News

Tags: Jejomar Binay

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