Following the landmark enactment of Republic Act 12021, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has officially transitioned to a two-year monitoring cycle for all Maritime Higher Education Institutions (MHEIs) nationwide.
This strategic shift marks a significant departure from previous, lengthier evaluation windows, effectively doubling the frequency of oversight to ensure that Philippine maritime education remains competitive on the global stage.
The new monitoring regime is already in full effect. MARINA has commenced rigorous evaluations across:
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83 Maritime Higher Education Institutions (MHEIs)
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50 Assessment Centers
MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan emphasized that this move is central to the agency’s mission of elevating the caliber of Filipino seafarers. By shortening the cycle, the agency can identify gaps in facilities, curriculum, and faculty performance more rapidly, ensuring that schools adhere strictly to international standards set by the STCW Convention. “Our goal is clear: we want to increase the frequency of school evaluations to guarantee the highest quality of maritime education,” Administrator Malaluan stated. “While we are now implementing a two-year cycle, our long-term target is to transition to an annual monitoring system to maintain constant excellence across the board.”
To ensure the success of this intensified oversight, MARINA continues to work in close coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). This partnership aims to synchronize auditing processes, streamline data sharing, and create a more robust “check-and-balance” system for maritime programs.
The implementation of RA 12021 provides the legal backbone for these reforms, protecting the rights of seafarers while simultaneously demanding higher accountability from the institutions that train them. By tightening the monitoring loop, MARINA ensures that the Philippines remains the “Seafaring Capital of the World” through a workforce that is not only large in number but superior in skill and training.
