NOT TRUE. Dr. Ronald Raymond Lacson Sebastian (2nd from left), chief executive officer of John B. Lacson Maritime Foundation Maritime University, assured on Friday (Feb. 21, 2020) that the university continues to produce best maritime graduates. This is contrary to the reports on the alleged recommendation by the Maritime Industry Authority for its closure. (PNA Photo by Gail Momblan)
ILOILO CITY – The John B. Lacson Maritime Foundation Maritime University (JBLFMU), one of the leading maritime schools in the country, slammed on Friday the news carried by a national daily on its alleged closure.
In a press conference at JBLMFU’s Molo campus here, the school’s administration clarified it is not recommended for closure by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) due to non-compliance with the requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for seafarers.
The news carried by a national daily was picked up by some local media last Feb. 14.
Dr. Ronald Raymond Lacson Sebastian, JBLFMU chief executive officer, said the article cited 61 marine schools, JBLFMU included, as the auditees of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).
EMSA is a European Union agency tasked with reducing the risk of maritime accidents, marine pollution from ships and the loss of human lives at sea by helping to enforce standards peculiar to the EU.
“The recommendation for closure by the MARINA as stated herein of the 61 schools is a different matter to the EMSA audit where JBLFMU is mentioned to be included,” Sebastian said.
He said the closure reports have raised the concern of parents and some shipping companies which source their manpower from the maritime school.
“They were affected, especially our parents and also the shipping companies who are getting cadets for several years. I received calls from shipping companies who asked about the rumors that circulated about the John B. is closing,” he said.
Sebastian clarified that JBLFMU has always been compliant with MARINA standards and remained as the benchmark for maritime education in the country.
He said the board of the maritime institutions has called for a conference on Tuesday and the news article posted by the national daily was taken down “because it was untrue.”
Meanwhile, Capt. Luis Evidente, the executive assistant to the chief executive officer, said in the same press conference that MARINA cannot recommend a maritime school’s closure.
He said the EMSA is evaluating the schools and if there is room for improvement, the school is given due process to apply the correction.
“When you have findings, you do not have to be necessarily close right away. There is due process to that and only CHED (Commission on Higher Education) can say so, not MARINA,” he said.
Evidente also noted that JBLFMU welcomes audits done not only by EMSA but other firms and shipping companies as well.
“We have to undergo audits so that we know that we are at par or even higher than the standards required internationally,” Evidente said.
He said seafarers travel around the world so they have to conform with the standards of the countries they go to.
“They have to be recognized and their certificates have to be accepted,” Evidente said.
Sebastian also assured that the university produces globally competent professionals. (PNA)
