Max MejiaProfessorWorld Maritime UniversityMalmö, Sweden

• Created by the IMO in 1983 to help close the gap in implementation of IMO conventions

• Education, training, research, consultancy

• Capacity-building

• Harmonized enforcement of standards

• PhD / MSc / LLM / PGD / PGC in different maritime disciplines– Malmö, Sweden

– Dalian & Shanghai, China

– Distance

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World Maritime University

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Reforms in Philippine Maritime Education, Training, and Certification (2013-2016)Max MejiaProfessor, World Maritime University, Malmö, SwedenMarch 14, 2019

• Background– 1991-1998 – PCG officer (detailed at DOTC)

• Separation of PCG from PN

• Major reforms related to STCW’95

– 1998 to date – Professor/lecturer of Maritime Law and Policy at WMU

– 2013-2016 – appointed by Aquino government to head MARINA (STCW compliance being mandate #1)

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REFORMS @ PH METC

• What were some of the biggest problems?– Diffuse regulatory structure

• Council of 11 agencies!

• Inflexible METC organization and system

– Market-based, private sector-led education system

– Scattered/weak technical expertise/maritime competence (leading to conflict of interest)

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REFORMS @ PH METC

• What were some of the biggest problems?– Main EMSA findings

• MHEI monitoring system (perceived conflict of interest among assessors)

• Un/misalignment of the Quality Standards Systems (QSS) of STCW agencies with the National Quality Standards System (NQSS)

• MARINA failure to demonstrate the effective exercise of its oversight functions as STCW Administration

• Need to demonstrate fully-functioning NQSS

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REFORMS @ PH METC

• What were some of the biggest problems?– Mixed record of reform (Executive issuance vs statute)

• EO-396 (Ramos, 1997) MARINA to lead STCW Committee

• EO-93 (Estrada, 1999) MARINA to lead STCW Committee

• EO-149 (Estrada, 1999) MARINA to lead STCW Committee

• EO-75 (Aquino, 2012) LOI 1404 repealed, MARINA take over MTC

• The bureaucracy is immune to EOs

• No less than institutional reform was required

• RA 10635 (Aquino, 2014) Cong. Manalo, ANGKLA Partylist

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REFORMS @ PH METC

Philippine METC system, 1984-2012

• Diffuse, inflexible METC organization and system inadequate for– Unanticipated growth in PH

seafaring– Comprehensive STCW revisions– End of transition period for STCW

2010 = 2.5-3 M certificates before 1 January 2017

– Reg. I/10 inspections (EMSA! risk of withdrawal of recognition!)

Executive Order 75 (s.2012)

• 6 coequal partners

• MARINA instead of MTC, but...

• Still coordinative because of RA vs EO

• Strong “rivalry”

Republic Act 10635 (s.2014)

• Full implementation in 2015

• MARINA in control

– Legislative mandate

– TPME chairmanship

– NTC relinquish

• Concrete corrective actions/reform measures– EO 75: Absorption of MTC by MARINA/STCWO

– RA 10635: MARINA as single STCW administration

– STCW/technical approach vs labor/employment approach

– National QSS

– ISO Certification of STCWO

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REFORMS @ PH METC

• Concrete corrective actions/reform measures– 20 new senior technical positions (METSS)

– Capacity-building funds in MARINA budget

– MARINA mandate to legislate STCW standards

– Strict adherence to STCW competence tables

– IMO-coordinated task force (DE, DK, NL, NO)

– 24/5 certification service

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REFORMS @ PH METC

• Concrete corrective actions/reform measures– Chairmanship of TPME

• STCW standards vs promotion of education programs

• Plans for eventual transfer of full program oversight to MARINA

• Monitoring of MHEIs with MARINA as lead

• Phasing out of MHEIs – Using passing rates as criterion

– Introducing ESLP as a relief valve

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REFORMS @ PH METC

• Conclusion– Fundamentals put in place; infrastructure/system

necessary to move forward

– Consolidated STCW functions within a single agency and established an METC system that• Ensures continued compliance with rules on seafarer competence;

• Can easily adapt to future STCW amendments; and

• Has prepared the Philippines to meet the demands of the STCW transition period

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REFORMS @ PH METC

• Conclusion

– Any new system takes time to mature/take root

– Challenges

• Time pressure

• Political pressure

• Human factors

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REFORMS @ PH METC

END OF PRESENTATIONThank you for your attention.