The Philippines relies on shipping to link more than 7,000 islands. Shipping also connects the country to international commerce and trade. Our maritime industry, which employs hundreds of thousands of Filipinos, is one of the most critical sectors of the economy, and a vital component in attaining socioeconomic progress and inclusive growth.
There is already a shortage of seafarers, and it will continue to grow, said Mejia, adding that the shortage pertains to “skilled, qualified and highly skilled” seafarers. It takes four years to get a certified officer, “and we’re not producing enough of them.” Based on latest government data, the Philippines deployed 489,852 seafarers last year. This is 15,917 less than the 505,769 deployed in 2019 before the pandemic caused a significant decline in the country’s seafarer deployment in 2020 and 2021.
According to Mejia, the so-called “European standard” has become not only fundamental, but also “very essential” to the Filipino mariners’ certificates. It is considered the global standard based on the International Maritime Organization’s Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping, the set of rules and standards adopted in its 1978 convention to determine the knowledge and skills mariners need to safely perform their jobs at sea.