THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has conducted its theoretical examinations for seafarers in Cebu last Monday, the first outside Manila.
The examination followed right after the launch of Marina Regional Office 7 Deck and Engine Officers’ Licensure Examination and blessing of its Examination Room located in Qimonda IT Center, North Reclamation Area in Cebu City.
Republic Act (RA) 10635, is an act establishing the Marina as the single maritime-industry administration responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for seafarers.
The Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 10635 is where Marina executives provided the transfer of the regulatory function for licensure examinations of marine officers.
Marina STCW Executive Director Vera Joy Ban-eg said the law authored by Party-list Rep. Jesulito Manalo of Angkla also provides that the maritime services of the government be brought to the provinces.
“This is history, actually. This is the first time the exams took place outside Manila. We know the seafaring population in Cebu is big,” Ban-eg told reporters.
There were 47 applicants for deck crew who took the examination on Monday morning and another 47 in the afternoon, mostly coming from Cebu Reliable and Excellent Seafarers Training Center Inc.
Ban-eg said the assessment conducted by her staff from Manila this week is for November, and another round in December for Cebu. Exams in Manila are being conducted everyday.
Ban-eg is hoping Marina 7 will be given more budget and staff in order to cater to more seafarers in Cebu and some parts in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Marina is also set to conduct examinations in Davao City and Iloilo City.
Marina 7 Director Jose Venancio Vero Jr. said they hire job-order personnel to assist Manila staff in evaluating the documents of seafarers.
Capt. Emerico Gepilano, president of CREST and a member of the Marina Advisory Council, said the devolution of the Marina central office to the regional offices is the result of the consultation of STCW with the different maritime sectors.
“Hundreds of seafarers here in the Visayas, as well as from Mindanao, would greatly benefit from this, as they do not need to be away from their families during their short vacation just to process and take their examination in Manila,” Gepilano said in his closing remarks.
Gepilano said the seafarers will be spared from the expenses incurred when traveling to Manila and staying there for days.
He also assured Marina the maritime stakeholders in the Visayas help in whatever way they can.
In fact, a Visayas Maritime Stakeholders Association was already created composed of the different maritime shipping companies, training centers, review centers, assessment centers, maritime schools and other entities, which have a stake in the maritime industry.