THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has implemented a two-year monitoring cycle for Maritime Higher Education Institutions (MHEIs) in accordance with Republic Act 12021, the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers.
This new policy replaces previous monitoring schedules to ensure stricter compliance with education standards across the country’s maritime sector.
Marina Administrator Sonia Malaluan confirmed that the agency has started the monitoring process for 83 MHEIs and 50 assessment centers nationwide. The agency stated that the increased frequency of these inspections is intended to improve the quality of maritime education. Malaluan also noted that the agency aims to eventually transition to a one-year monitoring cycle.
In addition to institutional oversight, Marina issued Advisory No. 2025-40A to clarify the implementation of Updating Training for Basic Training – Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (BT-PSSR) and Revised Basic Training. The advisory provides specific instructions for seafarers regarding the validity and revalidation of their Certificates of Proficiency (COP).
According to the advisory, seafarers holding a valid COP in Basic Training may continue to work on vessels until the certificate expires. However, they must complete the BT-PSSR Updating Training before they can apply for the revalidation of their COP. This requirement ensures that all active seafarers eventually transition to the updated training standards.
For seafarers with expired COPs, the agency now requires the completion of the full Revised Basic Training for the issuance of a new certificate. This policy ensures that those returning to service are fully updated on current safety and social responsibility protocols required by the industry.
The advisory also addresses seafarers who have completed training but have not yet applied for a COP. If the training was completed more than two years prior to the application date, the applicant must take the Revised Basic Training. If the training was completed within the last two years, only the BT-PSSR Updating Training is required. Marina continues to coordinate with the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to maintain a unified monitoring system.
