PRC to issue STCW endorsement certificates?

The dispute between the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) over who should issue endorsement certificates for the Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) has been finally resolved.

This was revealed by Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma in an interview recently.

According to Secretary Laguesma, before the Philippine panel set off to Tokyo last week, the problem with the issuance of the STCW endorsement certificates has petered out, with PRC rising as the authorized agency to perform the function.

"We have settled the issue on Marina and PRC and PRC will be the one to issue the certificates," Laguesma confirmed.

However, a Marina source claimed that they were surprised to hear such report.

The source further disclosed that PRC will issue the endorsement certificates for officers while Marina for ratings, a function which will last until December since by January 2001, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will be in charge of the ratings certificate.

But the source admitted that despite the unofficial report, Marina continues to issue the STCW endorsement for officers since they have neither received an order from the office of Secretary Laguesma nor from the office of the Maritime Training Council (MTC).

Meanwhile, Laguesma clarified reports that the country faces a bleak future after the International Maritime Organization (IMO) junked the Philippine STCW report.

"Hindi na accurate yung sinasabi ni O Neil na back to square one o zero tayo. In fact yung pumuntang panel sa Tokyo, confident kami na pagbalik nila positibo ang kanilang ibibigay na balita sa amin."

The labor chief further stressed that the only problem which the Philippines is resolving to land on the IMO white list was the dispute between Marina and PRC.