The European Union has previously announced that it would continue to recognize the certificates of Filipino seafarers issued by the Philippine government, citing its efforts to comply with international standards."Because of changing times, employers are now concerned with the continuing supply of seafarers we have to upskill or upgrade our seafarers," said Noli Partido, head of the legal department of Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen's Union of the Philippines on Saturday.
"Among future challenges facing the maritime industry will be digitalization and decarbonization of ships to address climate change," added Marion Bernales, a seafarer and a representative of the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific.According to the EU, lack of ship training was among deficiencies the Philippines needed to address.
The AMOSUP and maritime schools can only hope that the new curriculum being formulated by CHED and MARINA will be responsive to international standards so that time, effort and resources of both schools and seafarers will not be wasted. What’s important for now is for government to not be complacent and continue holding dialogues with different stakeholders so that the education and training of Filipino seafarers won’t be compromised, and to maintain global standards that would keep Filipino crew members in demand.