‘WHAT CLOSURE?’: We meet MARINA standards – John B. maritime school

ILOILO City – The closure of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (JBLFMU), a top maritime school in the country based here, could displace thousands of students. But “there is no truth to it,” according to its chief executive officer Dr. Ronald Raymond Lacson Sebastian.

JBLFMU denied reports it could be recommended for closure due to alleged non-compliance with Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) regulations and European Maritime Safety Agency Audit (EMSA).

“The story was taken out of context and was published with lacking information,” stressed Sebastian.

A national newspaper reported MARINA as having said during a recent hearing of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation that 61 of the 91 maritime schools in the country have been recommended for closure for failing to meet the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers.

MARINA did not identify these schools thereby fuelling speculations and anxiety. JBLFMU has campuses in the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod.

“The MARINA recommendation for closure of the 61 schools is a different matter to the EMSA audit where JBLFMU is mentioned. We have always been compliant to MARINA standards and in fact we remain a benchmark for maritime education for the agency,” stressed Sebastian.

EMSA is a European Union (EU) agency charged with reducing the risk of maritime accidents, marine pollution from ships and the loss of human lives at sea by helping enforce standards peculiar to the EU.

According to Captain Luis Evidente, executive assistant to the CEO of JBLFMU, the last time their school was audited by EMSA, results showed it did not have deficiencies, but other schools did.

Since JBLFMU is one of the leading maritime schools in the Philippines, a country which is a major provider of manpower to EU vessels, EMSA regularly audits the university, Evidente explained.

This year, the EMSA audit will be from Feb. 24 to March 13.

JBLFMU has always been open to EMSA audits, according to Sebastian.

“In fact, this would be the third time the agency has audited the university and as of the past two audits, we have had no problems meeting the standard,” said Sebastian.
Audits are opportunities for improvement, he added.

“We would not reach where we are now were it not for these external audits that we willingly submit to. This is instrumental in ensuring that our vision to be a globally leading institution providing high quality training and education be met,” according to Sebastian.

Evidente agreed. “This is why ang status sang John B. Lacson as a university, we are at Level 4. We have autonomous campuses that produce thousands of very successful graduates. We are considered one of the top maritime schools in the country,” he said.

JBLFMU has been given Level 4 accreditation by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCUOA), the highest accreditation in the country for an educational institution.

“More so, for a maritime educational institution,” said Sebastian.

Other maritime schools set for EMSA audit are the Asian Institute for Maritime Studies in Pasay City, Philippine Merchant Marine School in Las Piñas City, Our Lady of Fatima University in Quezon City, University of Cebu-Maritime Education and Training Center, Philippine Maritime Institute in Bohol, BIT International College in Bohol, PNTC Colleges in Manila, and Philippine Merchant Marine Academy in Zambales.

The MARINA evaluation, on the other hand, is another matter, said Evidente, but the closure of schools with deficiencies is “not outright”, he stressed.

He also said the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) plays a part in the evaluation process.

CHED will issue a compliance report to the school concerned and such school has to act on it, said Evidente.

CHED and MARINA will then check if there has been satisfactory compliance.

“Ang pinakadulo nyan, if ‘di pa rin acceptable, the school may be closed down,” said Evidente.

In the case of JBLFMU, said Evidente, the most recent MARINA evaluation showed the university having no major problems or deficiencies.

For his part, Sebastian said, “We are confidently committed to producing globally competent professionals in the service of maritime. This we do to continue the legacy of my grandfather, Captain John B. Lacson, a legacy to make the maritime profession honorable and noble.”/PN