Maritime industry challenges

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Managing Editor ANTONIETA B. LOPEZ Business Editor ODETTE MONTELIBANO Desk Editor MARY ANN BARCELONA Advertising Coordinator RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete

ANDRES R. LEONARDIA Managing Director

Another coastal tragedy claimed the lives of at least 15 persons when an overloaded vessel sank Sunday while the victims were participating in a fluvial parade in Pintuyan, Southern Leyte. The incident once more brought into the plane of public attention not only the need for seaworthy vessels but also for greater public awareness on what overcrowding can lead to when unchecked by authorities.

In many cases, the cause of maritime accidents in the country has been overcrowding of passengers and this Southern Leyte tragedy is no exception but, in this case, sadly, the unsuspecting victims were out there for the fun and mood of the celebration.

The report comes also at a time when the role of the country in international shipping comes to the fore anew as Filipino sea vessel officers and workers have been known worldwide for their efficiency and dedication to work. The irony is, despite this dominance of the Filipino seafarer, back home, a lot has yet to be done to ensure that sea travel is safe in the country.

Consequently, the Department of Labor and Employment is urging the Commission on Higher Education to strengthen the capability of maritime education amid the expected need for at least 35,000 maritime navigation officers all over the world following last year's statistical reports of a robust preference and demand for Filipino seafarers in the international shipping industry. DOLE believes upgraded and updated academic preparation will pave the way for the continued domination of Filipino seamen and merchant marine officers and this could only be done if CHED and tertiary institutions would pursue an honest-to-goodness initiative to further strengthen the training of eventual personnel for the global maritime industry.

But this pursuit of maritime academic strengthening remains ironic if local public consciousness on sea safety remains low, thus resulting in needless deaths in the Philippine waters. Educating the people on consciousness on maritime safety and future global marine officers toward greater efficiency, therefore, remains a big challenge in the country.*