Ask for the official nomination forms from the UFS, Room 303 Plaza Towers Building, L. Guerrero St., Ermita, Manila. For inquiries call phone nos. 5260668/ 5244888 and 5255806 or fax 5242336.

A WEB page enabling workers to gain rapid access to essential information about their health and safety rights and responsibilities has been set up by the Health and Safety Executive.

The "workers’ webpage" http://www.hse.gov.uk/ workers
- covers the roles and responsibilities of employers and employees, as well as issues such as ‘whistle-blowing’ and reporting accidents.

Seafarers have spoken 
 
 

THE LAST marine deck licensure examination was a sounding lead on the real sentiments of the seafarers. They were given options by the Board of Marine Deck Officers to take either the Practical Assessment or attend quality training in Ship Simulator and Bridge Teamwork (SSBT) in a recognized simulator center. 72 percent of the candidates for the practical assessment under the operational level did not show up for the assessment.

It will be noted that for more than half a year last year, starting June of 2002 until the early part of 2003, a very strong lobby was aired in a radio program weekly campaigning for the implementation of the SSBT as an option of an examinee in lieu of the practical assessment. The Board of Marine Deck Officers prudently and wisely heeded the clamor for SSBT as an option in lieu of the practical assessment using simulators, whilst the Board issued Board Resolution 03-11, Series of 2003, dated 24 February 2003, where among others, SSBT was approved as an option in lieu of the practical assessment.

The said resolution was published in the Official Gazette dated  April 21,  2003, therefore giving the said resolution teeth with the force and effect of a law by May 7, 2003. Thereafter, the Board recognized simulator centers that were able to demonstrate the capabilities on developing acceptable assessment packages parallel to what the board was doing during the practical assessment. The Board also ensured that such simulator centers are compliant with the standards required.

Despite the lack of official pronouncements on the implementation of the SSBT training as an option in lieu of the practical assessment, the seafarers came to know about the said resolution and thereby being given the option a choice, they have made their choice and the numbers will not lie.

There were 620 passers for the OIC during the July 2003 marine deck licensure exams in the written phase. Out of the 620 total, 507 candidates for the OIC were scheduled for the practical assessment using simulators for the dates 19 August to 23 August 2003. Out of 507 candidates, only 142 or 28 percent took their chances by showing up and taking the practical assessment. Everybody is still waiting for the final result of the licensure exams. This will simply indicate that 72 percent have chosen not to take the practical assessment, which of course can only be interpreted that they would rather undergo quality training in SSBT to complete their requirements to process their licenses.

The remaining challenge for those who opted for the SSBT is that, it is apparent that they cannot join the scheduled mass oath taking on 30 September 2003. Some candidates claimed they were made to believe by others that the oath taking for those who opted for SSBT is on 30 November 2003. The Board quickly denied this misinformation.

Some feedbacks however have reached this column that Board Resolution 03-11, Series of 2003, actually did not facilitate nor improve the process of acquiring the appropriate certificates. This was particularly the observation of the Masters and Mates Association of the Philippines (MMAP), whom we heard was allegedly instrumental in the formulation of the revised IRR for the RA 8544 that resulted to the issuance of the Board Resolution 03-11.

This observation was somehow accurate because those candidates who have completed SSBT since May of 2003 have yet to be declared as passers in the practical assessment phase of the licensure exams. It can also be noted that the Board have exempted many candidates from the practical assessment on the basis of the new curriculum of the school where the candidates have completed their BSMT course. This exemption did not present any difficulty at all and the implementation was swift, nice and easy.

There might be wisdom in any and every rules and regulation, the wisdom of the Board Resolution 03-11, Series of 2003 have to be appreciated by those affected. Nevertheless, if the candidates for the examination should make their choice and opt for training now, they will definitely realize that it is the wiser thing to do.
For those who have spoken, 72 percent against 28 percent cannot be wrong.
 

EDITORIAL
Seafarers’ patriotic duties

SOUNDING LEAD
Seafarers have spoken
Capt. Reynold M. Sabay

UGONG NG MAKINA 
AT IKOT NG ELISE
Sobra sa training kulang sa galing
Engr. Nelson P. Ramirez

SPIRITUAL VOYAGE
Thanks, the most forgotten word
David B. Toring Jr., AOS-Cebu 

VAST HORIZON
The grace of humility
C/Engr. Rodolfo B. Virtudazo

THE LAW OF SEAFARERS
The meaning of due process
Atty. LeonardoVinz O. Ignacio

COMMENT
The POEA mess, 
a deadly trap
Capt. Leuel P. Oseña

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