THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) yesterday said the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) is part of the government’s efforts to save the jobs of Filipino seafarers amid the country’s consistent failure to pass the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) evaluation.
In a statement, DMW Secretary Susan Ople denied reports that Marina is being excluded from the inter-agency efforts to end the 16-year failure of the Philippines to meet EMSA standards.
“The DMW, as well as the Marina, as an attached agency of the Department of Transportation (DOTR), were included in that directive,” said Ople. “The President never ordered Marina to be removed as an implementing agency nor did I ever say this in any interview.
“The DMW fully supports the actions being taken by the DOTR and Marina to ensure compliance with international maritime standards, particularly on the education, training, and certification of Filipino seafarers,” said Ople.
Ople issued the statement after reports came out that Marina has been excluded in the inter-agency group composed of DMW, DOTR, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Foreign Affairs, and Commission on Higher Education.
The agencies have been directed by President Marcos Jr. to ensure the Philippines will meet EMSA standards and save the jobs of Filipino seafarers.
Ople has vowed that the agencies involved will exert all efforts to ensure the concerns on EMSA auditing would be addressed.
“We are looking at root causes of this, and looking to address this soon,” said Ople in an earlier interview.
