By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
In coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the European Union (EU) launched the Sustainable Connectivity Package (SCOPE) on Monday, Nov. 11.
The EU’s maritime technical assistance package will allow the Philippines to better implement maritime safety and labor standards for Filipino seafarers, while improving the capabilities of the country’s maritime regulatory agencies, Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said.
The transport chief expressed his gratitude to the EU delegation, led by EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro, for the assistance project, underscoring the crucial role of the project in bolstering the country’s maritime sector and workforce.
“This technical assistance will boost our confidence that we can improve transport connectivity and technical cooperation between the EU and the ASEAN countries, focusing on digital solutions, and social and environment sustainability,” Secretary Bautista said.
He also hopes that the Philippines will be able to adopt European standards for its training and certification systems, alongside benchmarking [the] best practices among neighboring ASEAN countries.
Likewise, Bautista reassured Amb. Santoro that the Philippines will continue “improving the implementation of the International Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for seafarers.”
Meanwhile, Amb. Santoro affirmed EU’s full support to uplifting the Philippine maritime industry.
“We trust the Philippines as a reliable partner. You [Philippines] can completely rely on our end. We trust that the Philippines is fully committed to complying in various trainings for the seafarers.”
The SCOPE project is also envisioned to support the formation of a stronger ASEAN regional network of maritime vocational education institutions and maritime stakeholders, by focusing on the areas of green transition, sustainability, women’s empowerment in maritime, digitalization, and career and skill development and opportunities for seafarers. The project will run until November 2027.
Other key officials present in the event were DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, EU Delegation to the Philippines Head of Cooperation Marco Gemmer, European Commission Waterborne Director Fotini Ioannidou, Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) Director General Andreas Nordseth, DOTr Undersecretary Secretary for Maritime Elmer Sarmiento, MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan, DOLE Assistant Secretary Lennard Constantine Serrano, DMW Assistant Secretary Jerome Pampolina, PCG Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for Maritime Safety Services, Jomark Angue, Philippine Transmarine Carriers Group of Companies CEO Gerardo Borromeo, and professors and officers from various European training institutions and universities.
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