MANILA, Dec. 26 (PNA) — Despite lacking the seafarer database, personnel, and questionnaires, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) announced that it will still push through with its first-ever supervised marine deck and engine examinations and assessments this coming January 2015.
The transfer of the above-mentioned functions, which was earlier by the Professional Regulation Commissions, was done through the authority of Republic Act 10635 which stipulates MARINA as the country’s single agency for maritime and seafarer training affairs.
This was stressed by MARINA administrator Maximo Mejia, Jr.
And to cope with these news functions, he added that the agency has already started a “dry-run” for seafarers needing to upgrade their certificate of competencies (COCs).
This started last Nov. 17, Mejia stressed.
The MARINA chief said that divisions or offices, which has supervisory functions on COCs, are now required to work over time to handle the influx of applicants.
“We are ready for our new duties and jobs, we can’t say that (we can do it 100 percent efficiently) but we will do our best,” Mejia pointed out.
People and sectors expressing doubts on their capabilities to handle such task are merely motivating them, he added.
“We will do our best to ensure that the system (for examinations and assessments) will be working,” the MARINA administrator said.
He is also hopeful that the time between November and January 2015 will give them the necessary skills and training to handle their new functions.
Pilot tests are ongoing as this posting.
The exams, which will be computerized, will done to calibrate and check the efficiency of the new system.
Mejia said that they are looking at setting up of 146 testing stations for the National Capital Region within the first quarter of 2015, with MARINA regional offices closely following suit.
He added that an advantage of this is that seafarers can take their examinations by function and by competence, meaning that those who failed to get the minimum passing grade on the latter, can retake it on their convenience. (PNA)