SM Global Pinoy and Marina celebrate Filipino Seafarer , Seafaring Industry needs more women – IMO Chief

Tweet

Calling it the “untapped sector”, the Secretary General of the United Nations International Maritime Office (IMO) pushed for the increased involvement of women in the seafaring industry saying they are the key to the growth of the industry.

Speaking during the International Seafarers Day at the SM Convention Center in Pasay City, IMO Secretary General Ki Tack Lim said the seafaring industry should work towards attracting more women since they have proven to be as equally competent as their male counterparts.

“The importance of women as a huge source of safer sea voyage human resources cannot be overstressed. The shipping world cannot afford to ignore such rich and still largely untapped source of quality recruit,” Lim told some 5,000 marine officers, students and their families who attended the event, sponsored by the SM Global Pinoy Program, held last Saturday, June 25 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Similar celebrations with Filipino seafarers and MARINA were also held at SM Seaside Cebu and SM City Iloilo with an estimated attendance of close to 1,000.

The Philippines is the world’s capital source of seafarers with some 367,000 Filipino seafarers deployed all over the world but women make up only 2 percent of the world’s maritime workforce of 1.3 million.

Lim said the greater participation of women in the seafaring industry is of vital importance given the fact that the demand for seafarers is expected to further increase in the coming years.

“Looking ahead, the demand for global fleet for seafarers is increasing and predicted to rise even further attracting seafarers particularly officers,” he said.

Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Deputy Administrator Gloria Banas agreed saying that based on their feedback and evaluation of female cadets and officers in the maritime industry, women have shown a lot of capabilities that make them at par with men.

“The thrust is really gender equality in all professions and that includes the crewing industry and women have been starting to make their presence felt because of their commitment and dedication to their jobs,” she said.

The primary consideration, she added, is their accommodation in the ships since seafaring has been a male-dominated profession since the beginning. “With the issue of accommodation being addressed, we don’t see any reason why more should not join the industry because they have proven to be an asset in any ship,” Banas stated.

Lim also lauded the investments and programs carried out by the Philippine government, through the MARINA to make sure it remains to be the crewing capital of the world. 

“This country has made huge collective investments in maritime education and in training over the recent years and the highly specialized training facilities you have put in place showed the commitment you have to retain the so-called crewing capital of the world,” Lim pointed out.

The event, attended by around 5,000 seafarers and their families, marked the first time the IMO head was present in the country and his first visit to Asia since he assumed the post.

As a specialized agency of the United Nations, IMO is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented.

Organized in 1948, the IMO currently has 171 Member States and 3 Associate Members.

This year’s theme is “At Sea For All” which highlights the indispensability of the seafarers and the shipping industry to people all over the world.

The International Seafarers’ Day of the seafarer is an official United Nations international observance day which takes place every year on 25 June. It is organized by the IMO and aims to increase awareness among the general public of the world’s 1.3 million seafarers for their unique, and all-too-often overlooked, contribution to the world economy.

The Philippines played a key role in annual observance as the date June 25 was chosen by the IMO during the Manila Convention held in 2010 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Annie Garcia, President of SM Supermalls said their hosting of the event is part of their commitment to honor the many contributions and sacrifices the Filipino seafarers do for their country and family.

“Thus, we salute our seafarers who stand tall in their tasks; in their duty; in their stewardship of their family. Thus, we have set aside one day every year to give due honor and recognition to seafarers worldwide,” Garcia said.

She also stated that the Global Pinoy Center present in every SM mall is a testament to their commitment to recognize the Filipino seafarer and the other OFWs and their families.

“SM Supermalls has strived over the years to requite the sterling example of the seafarer, including our OFWs whom we deem as our new heroes and pillars of the nation’s economy. Thus, we have established the Global Pinoy Center in every SM Supermall throughout the archipelago (to) cater to (their) needs,” she said.

To know more about SM Global Pinoy, please visit www.smglobalpinoy.com orwww.facebook.com/smgpc. 

You may also email info@smglobalpinoy.com.

DepEd, MARINA tie up to offer maritime program in SHS

Tweet

The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will provide Senior High School (SHS) students with the education and training to qualify for further studies and/or career opportunities in the maritime industry upon graduating from SHS.

“The Department sees how critical the maritime industry is. It is not just about the curriculum but our competitive advantage in the world,” said Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC. 

[L-R] DepEd Assistant Secretary for Programs and Projects Elvin Ivan Uy, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Maximo Mejia Jr., PhD, Angkla Partylist Representative Jesulito Manalo, Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC, AMOSUP VAdm Eduardo Ma R. Santos, and DepEd Undersecretary for Programs and Projects Dina Ocampo at the MOA signing for the SHS maritime program. 

With the increasing demand for seafarers in the international and local maritime industry, Luistro added that the Department recognizes the need to offer a maritime specialization in SHS under the K to 12 Program. 

“We would like to thank DepEd for their support and cooperation for the maritime SHS program. With this program, we will be able to show that the Philippines is able to provide or offer highly competent, well-trained and highly qualified Filipino seafarers, who are ready for employment upon graduating from high school,” said MARINA Administrator Maximo Majima Jr., PhD.

Through the MOA, DepEd and MARINA will work together on the development and revision of the curriculum guides and instructional materials necessary for the proper implementation of the SHS maritime specialization. Both parties are also responsible for designing and implementing the said specialization in compliance with international standards in maritime education and training.

The Standards of Training and Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) convention code will be used as a basis for developing the curriculum for the maritime specialization. With this, SHS graduates of the said specialization may take the assessment for the certification of ratings. This will allow them to qualify for career opportunities in the maritime industry upon graduation and evaluation. SHS graduates may also pursue further studies in the maritime field. Given this, the country will be able to produce more seafarers at the officer level. 

“We’re very grateful to MARINA for working with us to ensure that it is not just about developing a curriculum that’s acceptable to DepEd but to the world standards of the maritime industry,” Luistro added.

DOTC Pursues 3-Year Program to Reduce Domestic Shipping Cost for Inclusive Growth

Tweet

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is beginning a three (3)-year program aimed at generating growth for the country’s agribusiness trade, directly benefitting workers in the agricultural and fisheries sectors across the country, in line with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s push for inclusive growth.

Last Wednesday (May 8, 2013) the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) secured the cooperation of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on a program to pursue reforms various policy and regulatory reforms in the Philippine shipping sector in order to improve our farmers’ market access and integration by reducing the cost of domestic shipping over the next three years.

From L-R: (seated) DOTC Undersecretary for Planning Rene K. Limcaoco, DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya, IFC Resident Representative Jesse Ang; (standing) Narcisa Rivera of CIDA, MARINA Director Myrna Clemeno, PPA official Amy Aquino, and IFC Senior Program Manager Hans Schrader.

The project will involve a diagnostic review by the IFC to identify areas where pro-competitive practices will help meet these goals. The DOTC will work together with its frontline agencies, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), in reviewing the results of the study and implementing the recommendations of the IFC from 2013 to 2016.

“This partnership with the IFC is a very welcome development. It will have a major impact on our economy, especially for farmers and fisherfolk who stand to realize the most gains from our policy reforms,” said the Transport Department.

The DOTC explained further that, by reducing domestic shipping costs, the prices of commodities will also go down. According to a study prepared by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in 2005, 24.2% to 43.8% of the wholesale price of food products is on account of transport and logistics costs. 

“By making it cheaper to move agricultural goods from farms to markets, the prices of these commodities will also be reduced, making them more affordable to consumers,” remarked the DOTC. “These benefits are the reason why the DOTC, MARINA, and PPA – all of whom share the President’s vision of inclusive growth – look forward to this project.”

This effort is partly funded by the Canadian International Cooperation Agency (CIDA), and will require no cost on the part of the Philippine government. It is also part of the IFC’s Philippine Agribusiness Trade Logistics program.

According to IFC Resident Representative Jesse Ang, this agreement demonstrates the IFC’s confidence in the DOTC, MARINA, and PPA’s efforts to undertake shipping and port reforms.