DOLE seeks tripartite efforts to boost global demand for Filipino seafarers

To sustain the country's status as manning capital of the world, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will push for tripartite efforts to immediately address various issues and difficulties confronting the Philippine maritime sector, especially in expanding the sea-based sector as source of overseas employment for Filipinos.

"The DOLE will vigorously support its partners in the Maritime Industry Tripartite Council (MITC) not only in addressing common problems in the maritime sector but also in their target of capturing at least 50 percent of the total global requirements for Filipino seafarers in the next six years," Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said, adding "this is part of efforts to expand the sea-based OFW sector amidst the turmoil in the Middle East which has led to the repatriation of OFWs from Libya."

Baldoz initiated the establishment of the MITC early this year to provide the tripartite partners in the maritime sector a venue where common concerns can be addressed to ensure the country's capability to produce competent seafarers and port workers. Members include the Joint Manning Group (JMG), the umbrella organization of manning agencies.

JMG leaders, in a meeting with POEA Administrator Carlos Cao Jr., said the country's seafaring industry is aggressively targeting to increase global requirements for Filipino seafarers from 30 percent at present to 50 percent until 2016. To achieve this, the industry has invested heavily in putting up world class training modules and facilities for Filipino seafarers to enhance their competitiveness and employability in the international maritime industry.

Baldoz thanked the seafaring industry, saying that the DOLE, through the MITC, is prepared to support the industry's efforts in capturing a larger portion of the international market for seafarers.

Meanwhile, the Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP), the largest organization of seafarers in the Philippines and the whole world, has joined the DOLE in tripartite efforts for the advancement of the Philippine maritime sector.

Baldoz said the AMOSUP has declared full support to the MITC as means through which stakeholders can address problems in the maritime industry, particularly those affecting Filipino seafarers and port workers.  

Founded 50 years ago by the late Capt. Gregorio Oca, AMOSUP is internationally recognized leader of seafarers' organizations, being the largest union of marine officers and seamen in the world with around 90,000 members.

"The support of AMOSUP to the MITC is an affirmation of tripartism as an effective means of building consensus and collaboration of social partners in mutually beneficial activities that will drive the growth of the maritime industry and promote the welfare, employability, and competitiveness of Filipino seafarers and port workers," Baldoz said.

AMOSUP president Dr. Conrado F. Oca, son of Capt. Oca, who expressed the AMOSUP's appreciation to Baldoz for jumpstarting the establishment of the MITC, also underscored the importance of tripartism in achieving industrial peace, in protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of seafarers and port workers, and in pushing for the ratification of the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) 2006. The latter provides for comprehensive rights and protection at work for the world's more than 1.2 million seafarers.

"The MITC will be venue for the tripartite partners to craft policies and regulations, including a national action plan for the ratification of the MLC 2006," Baldoz said. End/laa

Back to campus Y3 for PMMA alumni home-comers

GRADUATES of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy will come together like one great family in their three-day annual homecoming and foundation day come April 3-5, 2009 at the school grounds in Zambales. It will be the third successive year such reunion will be held inside the Academy.

Set for three days and two nights, host class members headed by former Coast Guard Commandant Vice Admiral Reuben Lista have prepared wholesome fun and festival activities for this year’s reunion under the theme: “Fiesta sa Academia.”

Highlight is the drawing of the winners of the fund-raising project thru raffle of valuable items including a brand new Starex Van as top prize. Proceeds will go to welfare programs of the Alumni Association as well as provide a seed fund for the coming Alumni Center that has been neglected for years already.

Guest speakers include: PMMA president RAdm. Fidel V. Dinoso, and PMMA Alumni Association president Capt. Jaime Quinones, who is expected to outline his administration’s plans and programs.

There will also be open house, boodle fight, shipwreck party, and a parade in review of Alumni from various batches including graduates of the Philippine Nautical School, precursor of the PMMA. This year’s hosts came from classes ending in 9 and 4, who made it possible the best ever accommodations for all graduates as everyone is invited for free courtesy.

Free Download Maritime Observer Issue

Get the latest news on Filipino seafarers and everything else happening at the Philippine maritime world from Maritime Observer newspaper. The paper is just new and had just undergone some management changes months ago.

For this March issue:
GENERATING JOBS THRU EDUCATION AND TRAINING
MARINA MAKING WAVES 10-POINT PROGRAM
INFORMATION ON HOW THE EARTH WAS MEASURED

Download the whole paper now, before time runs out: http://depositfiles.com/files/u5c6v69nd


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RP, Japan agree to train Filipino seafarers while global economy is down

The Philippines has entered into an agreement with the transport ministry of Japan to provide for the skills training and upgrading of Filipino seafarers employed in international vessels which have been idled or laid-up due to the global economic downturn, the Department of Labor and Employment said.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said that during his recent trip to Japan, he signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on Development of Asian Seafarers with Minister Kazuyoshi Kaneko of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism to seal the agreement providing for the training of Filipino seafarers under the International Cooperative Training Project for Asian Seafarers.

Roque was in Tokyo last week for the signing and also to represent the country, along with tripartite partners from the Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) and the Philippine-Japan Consultative Council, at the Philippine-Japan Seafarer Policy Forum to seek for the preservation of the jobs of over 40,000 Filipino seafarers employed in Japanese vessels.

He implored on the Japanese ship owners to keep the Filipino seafarers on-board even as their ships could be laid-up due to lack or absence of demand for cargo. He said that cargo ships forced to dock at ports for longer periods due to the economic crisis still need manpower for ship maintenance.

At the same time, DOLE Chief called on the Japan Seaman’s Union (JSU) to lend a hand in the provision of social safety nets to other Filipino seafarers who may not be able to remain on board Japanese vessels due to the crisis. Members of the union, he said, include about 35,000 to 45,000 Filipino seamen.

He thanked the JSU for its willingness to study the possibility of giving livelihood assistance for Filipino seafarers who may be forced to go on vacation while cargo demand is nil.
Roque also cited the Japan transport ministry for the training project it would implement in collaboration with DOLE, saying the project would help address the global shortage of skilled seafarers and qualified officers by training and upgrading the skills of Filipino seafarers especially those who may have to go home for vacation while their vessels are laid up.

He said the training would be an opportunity for Filipino seafarers affected by the crisis to train and upgrade their skills while waiting for their return on board.

“This will enable us to develop our seafarers particularly as vessel officers who are in short supply and badly needed by the international seafaring industry,” Roque said, adding “once the global cargo trading resumes its robustness, our seafarers would be in a better footing to land in better paying positions and pay on board.”

Under the agreement, the DOLE and the Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism would jointly implement the training project with the latter providing for technical, funding, and human resources. The former, on the other hand, will seek the support of manning agencies and maritime training schools for the implementation of the project.

TESDA Fast Tracking Seafarer Assessment

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary General Augusto ‘Boboy’ Syjuco said the TESDA is fast tracking the assessment of seafarers and continues to issue certificates of competency, belying the complaint of the so-called Retired Seafarers Association that the TESDA has stopped the issuance of COCs since Thursday last week.

“We took note of the complaint, but I wish the complainant had checked with the TESDA first about the matter,” Syjuco said in a press release.

“The TESDA continues to issue COCs and has in fact assigned a fulltime maritime training officer to attend to seafarer concerns,” he added.

Syjuco, who holds the rank of cabinet secretary, also said the RSA’s complaint that the alleged stoppage will cause delay in the deployment of seafarers is far-fetched.

“Since the TESDA has not stopped issuing COCs, how could there be delay in the deployment of seafarers?” he asked.

Data of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration show that in 2007, the country deployed 266,553 seafarers, or 25 percent of the total OFW deployment of 1.07 million.

Of the number, 61,307 (23 percent) are officers; 165,263 (62 percent) are ratings; and 33,983 (15 percent) are other passenger ship personnel.

The same data also show that as of September 2008, the country has a total certified seafarer stock of 343,651 deck ratings and 118,593 engine ratings.

The TESDA chief explained that under the law, TESDA is mandated to issue COCs to seafarer deck and engine ratings after conducting a competency assessment.

He said the agency conducts two types of assessments. The first is portfolio or document assessment which covers experienced or returning seafarers. The second is the performance assessment, which consists of written and skills demonstration administered to new entrants in the seafaring profession.


He emphasized that a seafarer must pass the TESDA competency assessment before he could be issued a COC, which has a validity of five years.

Syjuco said that the TESDA has six accredited assessment centers for deck and engine ratings located in Regions 3, 6, 8 and in the National Capital Region. Three assessment centers in Regions 4-A, 7, and 11 are undergoing re-accreditation process.

In Metro Manila, the National Capital Regional office of the TESDA conducts portfolio assessment through the Free Assessment Service of TESDA, while performance assessment is administered by accredited assessment centers.