A bill making the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) as the single agency responsible for the enforcement of international agreements governing Filipino seafarers is expected to soon become a law after the measure was swiftly passed on third reading last week (February 10).

Angkla partylist Rep. Jesulito Manalo, who represents the sector of maritime professionals in the Congress, said House Bill 3766  ensures that Filipinos will remain “the seafarers opf choice” across the globe,  since the measure will ensure that the Philippines complies with the recommendations made by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) in its previous audits of the country’s maritime sector.

Manalo, the principal author of HB 3766, said one of the recurring deficiencies observed by EMSA in its past audits was the fragmented manner by which the different STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping for Seafarers)-related obligations are being implemented and enforced.

“EMSA has began recovering, assessing and auditing our education, skills and training processes with regards to the maritime sector since 2006, and we have not done any great progress,” said the Angkla representative.

Angkla is a partylist ally of the National Unity Party (NUP) under the Coalition for Peace and Development.

Manalo said that without a single maritime administration clearly in place, EMSA might  withdraw the recognition of  seafarer certificates issued by the Philippine government.

The solution, he said, lies in  HB 3766 which aims to make the  MARINA the single maritime agency charged with the implementation of the 1978 STCW and other related covenants and international agreements consistent with the requirements of EMSA.

“MARINA shall also assume all the powers and functions of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Health (DOH), and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) relative to issuance, validation, verification, correction, revocation, or cancellation of certificates of competency, endorsement, proficiency and documentary evidence required of all seafarers,” the bill said.

Under the bill, MARINA is also mandated to ensure that the examination, licensing and certification system for marine deck and engine officers are in accordance with the requirements prescribed under the STCW International Convention.

A counterpart bill filed Senate President Franklin Drilon was also passed by the Senate on third reading.

"Rest assured that when the law is enacted, Angkla will be looking at MARINA more intently and make sure that they see that this is now an opportunity for them to rise up to the challenge of making the lives of our seafarers easier," Manalo said.