United Filipino Seafarers (UFS) yesterday once again thumped the seemingly hard-headed and insensible Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) through another monolithic demonstration held exactly outside MARINA’s office in Taft, Manila.
The protesters, however, were shocked as Coast Guard trainees were shamelessly used by MARINA to form a human barricade thwarting UFS-led demonstration. The action employed yesterday by MARINA was never a new thing as during the first rally last October 14, 2015, it intentionally re-scheduled and held the oath-taking of its newly-registered and promoted officers at the parking lot of MARINA—a desperate counter act that was conspicuously aimed at blocking the protesters.
UFS’ second protest rally was prompted due to MARINA’s continued negligence in attending to Filipino seafarers’ concerns considering the fact that the latter had already agreed with the former after the first dissent to review its implemented platforms which earlier drew overwhelming flak from Filipino mariners for being “unjustifiable and a heavy burden.”
Prior to yesterday’s demonstration, UFS already held a rally on October 14, 2015 in which one of the issues raised was the re-raking of licensure examinations among mariners who have not used their license for five years or more. Shortly after, MARINA expressed its willingness to review and modify some of its provisions to attain mutual understanding between their party and the protesters.
However, the recent circular order released by MARINA does not seem to walk its talk. While the re-taking of licensure examination is no longer included to its roster of requirements, a new “abbreviated test” popped out as a replacement of such—an act which is a clear manifestation that MARINA is underestimating Filipino mariners’ comprehension about the subject at hand.
UFS questions the significant difference between the abbreviated test and the actual licensure examination. But MARINA Administrator Maximo Mejia could not offer a concrete answer that would meet both ends—their goal of attaining “maritime excellence” as well as UFS and other mariners’ concerns.
Apparently, the content and scope of the exam was the only thing that has been modified, but looking at the bigger picture, the consequences that the abbreviated exams entail are no different to the licensure test.
Failure in examination is equal to inability to work as a licensed mariner, inability to work is tantamount to zero salary—a ghastly fact that marine protesters are trying to prevent.
UFS along with thousands of allies, expert engineers, and mariners–who are one of the prime movers of the seafaring industry; thus, of the Philippine economy—will never get tired of pursuing its sworn mandate of protecting the welfare of the Filipino mariners.
Unless MARINA’s rotten system has been muscled down, the fight continues—no matter how far and how long it takes.
Source: Tinig ng Marino
Photo Source: Inquirer News
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