THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the EU-Asean Scope Seafarers Project Team presented the METC Master Plan on Oct. 26, 2026, to update maritime initiatives and review project progress.
Filipino seafarers are stepping into a modernized era of training as the Marina and the EU-Asean Scope Seafarers Project Team presented the Maritime Education, Training and Certification (METC) Master Plan at their second Project Steering Committee meeting on Monday.
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary Atty. Villamor Plan and EU Ambassador Massimo Santoro co-chaired the meeting, where delegates reviewed project milestones and set the work plan covering October 2026 to March 2027.
Assistant Secretary Plan called the plan a key milestone for institutional reform, while Ambassador Santoro underscored how the initiative reinforces Philippine leadership over national maritime governance, education, training and certification.
Developed with direct project support, the master plan serves as Marina’s strategic blueprint to upgrade national training standards, feed Philippine proposals into the global STCW Convention review, and equip seafarers for green shipping and emerging technologies.
STCW Executive Director Samuel Batalla committed to translating project outcomes into permanent institutional upgrades, while European Commission Director Fotini Ioannidou reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to bringing lasting, structural improvements to the training system.
The event highlighted three main themes: adopting the METC Master Plan as a framework for institutional reform, aligning with international standards through STCW review proposals and green shipping preparation, and sustaining cooperation between Philippine maritime agencies and European partners.
The meeting covered four key areas: presenting the METC Master Plan, reviewing project progress, and setting operational targets through March 2027. Delegates also focused on advancing Philippine proposals for the global STCW review, including modules for decarbonized shipping and reaffirming joint commitments among leaders from DOTr, Marina, the EU Delegation, and the European Commission.
Through continued collaboration with the EU-Asean Scope Seafarers Project, Marina aims to strengthen maritime governance, enhance institutional capacity, and sustain compliance with international maritime standards.
