THE Philippines is doing all it can to address “deficiencies” in the education and training of Filipino seafarers to make them at par with international standards and to meet the requirements and address concerns raised by the European Union (EU), President Marcos Jr. said Sunday.
“I think that we will [be] going to do everything that we can. We cannot leave it hanging like this. And this is our last chance so we have to really get it done. But again, the whole industry is working to make it happen,” the President said in an interview on board Flight PR001 while on his way to Brussels Belgium.
Marcos said in the past, the country’s focus was just to comply with the documentary requirements but things have now changed.
“I think they’ve changed their approach now to the accreditation. And I think we’ll be alright,” he said.
The President, since assuming office last June, had ordered several government agencies — Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) — to improve the country’s training and education to ensure the seafarer’s accreditation and meet EU standards.
He had also planned on issuing an executive order to address “grievances” of the EMSA.
