In order to pursue its thrust of supplying well-trained seafarers in the shipping industry, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) conducted an ocular visit and orientation of Technical Working Groups (TWG) for the proposed BS Marine Transportation program with the directors from the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) on March 10, 2022 held at Eastern Samar State University-Guiuan Function Hall. 

            The University has proposed this program in order to expand employment opportunities as it actively participates in the development of young people in the Philippines and the shipping industry is in dire need of well-trained seafarers both in the national and international arena. In its quest to support the aspiring seafarers, the University aims to maintain a modern and state-of-the-art educational and training facility for the aforementioned maritime program. In the same manner, the University will also invest heavily in the development of human resources and facilities to demonstrate its commitment to that intent.

            In the welcome talk delivered by Dr. Andres C. Pagatpatan Jr., University President, he emphasized their desire to extend the services of the university, particularly in the academic spectrum.  He stated that the Eastern Samar State University is taking a bold step, to provide new in-demand curricular program, specifically the Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation. He said, ”This is our way of helping our students & their families so that they won’t need to go to key cities just to study in expensive universities to take the course and become a professional seafarer.” He also noted ESSU as an ISO-certified academic institution including programs that are already AACCUP Accredited and COPC Compliant, and the recently awarded with CSC PRIME-HRM Level II Accredited. Hence, he said that “…the students are assured that they are given the same quality education with other prime universities, as enshrined in our Mission, our paramount goal is to provide quality education responsive to national and global needs, with its end goal to improve the lives of the people.” In addition, he mentioned that, “we are planning to have a consortium with another university (the Palompon Institute of Technology) in our commitment to meet with the requirements, and should the stars align in our favor and the higher authorities would allow us to offer the program as a stand-alone delivering institution, we will be much grateful.”

            Moreover, in his talk, Captain Chito A. Go, Chief Officer/Assistant Professor at National Maritime Polytechnic said, “Right now, ESSU is starting from the scratch, so we have to believe in accordance with what’s stated in joint memorandum circular of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and MARINA. The University must indeed have a simulator either Class A, Class B, or Class C. What’s stated in CHED, we must comply, Marina is strict, what’s stated must be complied.” Moreover, he also mentioned that in NMP, they’re now offering 49 courses and 25 of those are accredited by MARINA. Currently, they’re still working on some courses to be developed and accredited by MARINA. He ended his talk by sharing his working principle which is about working with actions not with mere words because a tongue doesn’t get things done.

            Meanwhile, during the open forum, when asked about the restrictions of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) inspection, Ms. Myla N. Macadawan, NMP Deputy Executive Director III said, “Ang EMSA ngayon, they conducted inspection but what we are going to do is to address kung ano yung mga findings nila during the conduct of audit and inspection so kung may kailangan i-improve, i-improve natin kasi kailangan nating i-meet yung standards ng EMSA but not necessarily na talagang mahihirapan. Medyo mahigpit tayo ngayon when it comes to requirements.” She also said that they are not being strict, they only want to do things right in order to meet the quality standards for the seafarers in the country.

            Afterwards, the certificates of appreciation were given by the University President, Dr. Andres C. Pagatpatan Jr., assisted by the Campus Administrator of ESSU-Guiuan Campus, Mr. Jared Harem Q. Celis.

            In his closing remarks, Mr. Celis emphasized the great effort of the University President in order for this endeavor to come to a reality. He envisioned Guiuan as a strategic place to offer this program considering the statistics given by the regional director. Mr. Celis also said that this initiative by the University President will be very helpful to the people of Guiuan, to the aspiring students, to the seafarers, to other stakeholders, and of course to the Municipality itself. Hence, once this program is realized, a lot of students will be engaged to enroll because they will not be going anymore to Cebu or anywhere far from the Eastern Samar province to take the said program. Moreover, Mr. Celis hopes that “with the help of our dynamic regional director, Joel Maglungsod and NMP Deputy Executive Director, Ms. Myla N. Macadawan, we are positive that in the coming years soon we’ll be able to offer this program.” Ending his closing remarks, he extended his gratitude to the people behind this endeavor by saying that, “We will do our best so that this program, this initiative of the University President will come to a reality.”