Month: October 2022

To ensure that the nation complies with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention for seafarers, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued new directives.

Marcos gave the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) instructions to handle maritime school issues, particularly those that do not adhere to criteria for educational quality, during his cabinet meeting on Tuesday, October 11.

At a press briefing, Undersecretary and Office of the Press Secretary officer-in-charge (OIC) Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil said, “The President wants to upgrade the competencies of maritime schools in the country and to fix training programs to give the students an advantage and put them to international standards in order to maintain the country’s rank as the top supplier of seafarers in the world.”

MARINA Administrator Atty. attended the cabinet meeting. Hernani Fabia, Deputy Administrator for Planning at the OIC, Ms. Sonia B. Malaluan, Director of the OIC-STCW Office, Mr. Samuel L. Batalla, and Mr. Luisito U. Santos delos.

The 10-Year Maritime Industry Development Plan for the organization received the President’s backing as well (MIDP).

Prior to this, on September 29 during a meeting with the stakeholders, Secretary for Migrant Workers Susan “Toots” Ople transmitted the President’s directive to address the audits by the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). “Please be aware that this has been the subject of no less than a cabinet meeting. It was an extensive, comprehensive discussion… Please be assured that this is very high on the cabinet’s agenda and on the president’s radar stream.

The president’s directive was not just to abide by the findings, not just to comply, but to address, to do more than comply, to address the root causes that have caused us some adverse findings.

That is part of the president’s marching orders, and the DMW will certainly do its share to ensure that our seafarers are protected and empowered, and your sector as well. The business community will be in the loop and, hopefully, will be our partners in presenting to the world our reform agenda at the DMW and under the Marcos administration,” Ople said.

The OFW Hospital, the country’s first hospital dedicated to Filipino migrant workers and their families, is expanding services while keeping its promise of providing free health care.

This initiative was created to thank our modern-day heroes, the OFWs, for their enormous contribution to the economy.

The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Hospital and Diagnostic Center or commonly known as the OFW Hospital opened last May 02, 2022. Located in San Fernando, Pampanga, the seven-story, 100-bed facility sits on a 1.5-hectare land that was donated by the provincial government of Pampanga.

OFWs planning to conduct their PEME or post-employment medical exam can avail of that service here for free.

Aside from the OFW, their immediate family members can utilize this medical facility FREE of charge.