After 15-month review, PHL gets EU nod on seafarers

The upgrade of the 20-year-old RoRo network includes the development of ports and ramps and the deployment of additional RoRo vessels to different routes. Once completed, the modernized and expanded RoRo system will greatly improve the interisland connectivity and movement of people and goods.

Farm-to-market ports

ACKNOWLEDGING the important role of transport infrastructure in building a strong economy in the post-pandemic era, the DOTr plans to develop Farm-to-Market Ports (FMP) “to improve the efficient transport of food products, while providing low-cost food throughout the country,” according to Bautista.

This FMPs is being developed by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in seven provincial ports, including Capinpin Port in Bataan, Tablas Port in Romblon, Dumangas Port in Iloilo, and Dapitan Port in Zamboanga del Norte. Once fully developed, the FMP network will allow farmers and food traders to take advantage of the over 700 maritime gateways in the country and help spur economic activity in the countryside, especially in the agricultural sector.

Full speed ahead

AFTER outlining the plans for the maritime and other transport sectors, Bautista reiterated the DOTr’s awareness of the importance of a well-established transportation system to facilitate economic recovery and his commitment to remain focused amidst the different challenges.

“The challenge for me is to keep the fire of enthusiasm alive...Serious distractions can dissuade those with lesser resolve to see these projects to their final completion,” Bautista said.

Bautista expressed his full commitment to providing a convenient, accessible, safe and affordable public transport and declared: “We march on full speed ahead!”

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome Special to BusinessMirror

THE European Commission (EC) has decided to continue recognizing the seafarers’ certification of the Philippines, reversing a threat to ban Filipino seafarers from boarding Europeanflagged vessels.

In a statement, the EC Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport said the Philippine government made “serious efforts to comply with the requirements” to comply with the international standards on basic safety training course.

The Philippines is one of the largest maritime labor suppliers in the world with 300,000 to 350,000 deployed at any given time.

Around 50,000 Filipinos work in European-flagged state vessels, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) estimates.

An audit by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) in December 2021 said the recognition of the Philippine seafarer certificates would be withdrawn due to a number of deficiencies in seafarers monitoring, supervision and evaluation of training and assessment.

It found inconsistencies in Philippine compliance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for seafarers (STCW).

Marina appealed the audit and showed efforts to correct the deficiencies.

“We appreciate the constructive cooperation with the Philippine authorities and welcome their efforts to improve the system for training and certifying seafarers,” Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean said.

“The Philippines provide a significant and valued part of the European and global shipping industry’s maritime work force...The Philippines can count on our technical support to further improve the implementation and oversight of minimum education, training and certification requirements, as well as living and working conditions,” Vălean added.

In the coming months, the Com- mission intends to provide the Philippines with technical assistance to further improve its education, training and certification system for seafarers, as was also discussed between President Ursula von der Leyen and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., on the margins of the EU-Asean summit last December.

In a letter received by Marina Administrator Hernani N. Fabia, the EC’s Directorate General for Mobility and Transport conveyed the decision to extend EU “recognition of the Republic of Philippines in relation to its training and certification system for seafarers.”

The EC’s Directorate General for Mobility and Transport recalled that, “The assessment of the European Commission has identified a number of serious deficiencies in the Republic of the Philippines’ STCW system in areas related to: n Monitoring, supervision and evaluation of training and assessment; n Examination and assessment of competence;

Napolcom greenlights activation of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur police offices

THE National Police Commission (Napolcom) has approved the activation of the Maguindanao del Norte Police Provincial Office (PPO) and Maguindanao del Sur PPO following the deactivation of the existing Maguindanao PPO.

The Napolcom En Banc, headed by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary and Napolcom Ex-Officio Chairperson Atty. Benjamin C. Abalos Jr., signed Resolution No. 2023-0213, dated March 1, 2023, which approved the activation and deactivation pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 11550, entitled “An Act Dividing the Province of Maguindanao into Two (2) Provinces, namely: Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.”

The newly established Maguindanao del Norte PPO and Maguindanao del Sur PPO shall be activated as Type “C” PPOs since both provinces have Lone Congressional District and 3rd to 6th Income Classification. Both PPOs shall be headed by a Provincial Director, with the rank of Police Colonel, who shall exercise administrative supervision and operational control over their respective Municipal Police Stations (MPS) and its subordinates. n Programme and course design and approval; n Availability and use of training facilities and simulators; n On-board training; n Issue, revalidation and registration of certificates and endorsements.”

The Maguindanao del Norte PPO will be composed of 12 MPSs, namely, Barira MPS, Buldon MPS, Datu Blah Sinsuat MPS, Datu Odin Sinsuat MPS, Kabuntalan MPS, Matanog MPS, Northern Kabuntalan MPS, Parang MPS, North Upi MPS, Sultan Kudarat MPS, Sultan Mastura MPS, and Talitay MPS.

On the other hand, the Maguindanao del Sur PPO will be composed of 24 MPSs, namely, Ampatuan MPS, Buluan MPS, Datu Abdulla Sangki MPS, Datu Anggal Midtimbang MPS, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan MPS, Datu Montawal MPS, Datu Paglas MPS, Datu Piang MPS, Datu Salibo MPS, Datu Saudi Ampatuan MPS, Datu Unsay MPS, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun MPS, Guindulungan MPS, Mamasapano MPS, Mangudadatu MPS, Pagalungan MPS, Paglat MPS, Pandag MPS, Rajah Buayan MPS, Sharif Aguak MPS, Sharif Saydona Mustafa MPS, Sultan sa Barongis MPS, Talayan MPS, and South Upi MPS.

The Napolcom resolution also provides that the initial personnel complement for the two newly created PPOs shall be composed of the existing personnel of the to-be-deactivated Maguindanao PPO. The logistics, funds and other resources shall be drawn from the appropriation/allocation and assets of the existing Maguindanao PPO, while the annual fund support for the full operationalization of the said PPOs shall be programmed in the regular appropriation of the PNP Directorate for Comptrollership.

In addition, the Directors of the National Support Units (NSUs) and other PNP Offices authorized by the Napolcom to maintain their presence at the provincial level shall establish their respective Provincial Field Offices/Units or Teams in the PPOs, which shall be under the operational control of their respective Provincial Directors. NSU Directors are also authorized to realign the personnel complement of their respective frontline offices/units to effectively carry out their functions within their respective jurisdictions.

Manila provided its response to this assessment, including details of the actions taken, on the six key areas.

“Based on the answers of the Republic of the Philippines, and on all available information, the Commission has concluded that the measures taken demonstrate concrete progress and improvement as regards the compliance with the requirements of the STCW Convention.

“The outcome of the analysis allows the EU to extend the recognition of the Republic of Philippines STCW system,” said the EC. It reminded Manila, however, that, “Nevertheless, the services of the European Commission consider that there are still issues to be addressed.”

DMW padlocks unlicensed maritime consultancy firm

DEPARTMENT of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople has ordered the closure of a maritime consultancy firm in Sta. Cruz, Manila for alleged illegal recruitment activities.

Acting on orders of the Secretary, the department’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (DMW-MWPB), formerly the AntiIllegal Recruitment Branch, padlocked the office of JCB-Success Maritime Consultancy Services.

“We encourage victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking to report these crimes to us. Workers’ protection is one of the core functions of the DMW,” the DMW chief said.

Manuel Jericho L. Ramos, one of the victims, said in his sworn testimony that he applied for the position of engine cadet posted by JCB in September 2021, a year and a half ago.

He and three other applicants were promised deployment within a three-month period, which never happened. They were also asked to pay P75,000 each as placement fee and were encouraged to convince other colleagues to apply for positions offered by JCB.

Ramos received his travel documents in August last year but noticed that the visa on the document appeared tampered. After months of waiting for his deployment and growing suspicions over the agency’s questionable actions, he decided to report the matter to the DMW in October 2022.

Surveillance operations showed that JCB-Success Maritime Consultancy Services had been recruiting and placing seafarers without a permit from the DMW.

The bogus agency had been offering jobs as deck seafarers, able engine seafarers, oilers, engineers, and yacht stewards.