QuestionsQuestions (MARINA CIRCULAR NO. 2013-06)
It is adopted pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 474, Executive Order No. 125/125-A, Executive Order No. 75 and its IRR, the MARINA Memoranda of Agreement with CHED, TESDA, PRC and NTC, and the 1978 STCW Convention (as amended).
To prescribe policies/rules/procedures on monitoring maritime education programs, training courses, and competence assessment by METIs and assessment centers; implement STCW requirements on monitoring (Regulations I/6 and I/8); verify compliance with minimum STCW and Philippine requirements; and check how objectives and competence outcomes are achieved.
All maritime education programs, training courses, and assessment of competence of seafarers carried out by METIs and assessment centers (government and private), specifically those under STCW Chapters II & III (deck/engine/master), IV (radio communication), V (special training), and VI (emergency/occupational safety, security, medical care, survival).
It refers to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), through MARINA, as the single government agency mandated to implement and enforce the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended.
A series of evaluations to verify compliance with formulated standards or deviation from expected norms, to ensure achievement of defined program/course objectives in accordance with prescribed competence standards.
Because STCW Regulation I/8 requires continuous monitoring through a quality standards system and the Circular states it is the duty of the STCW Administration to ensure monitoring is done by qualified persons who are not themselves involved in or connected to the METIs/assessment centers concerned—ensuring independence and integrity.
CHED, TESDA, PRC, or NTC—those with which MARINA entered into a Memorandum of Agreement pursuant to EO No. 75.
It focuses on competence outcomes of students/trainees; looks at core processes/procedures instrumental to competence outcomes; and makes METIs/assessment centers and all training/assessment personnel/support staff responsible for the program, course, or assessment they carry out.
They must not be involved in or connected to the METI/assessment center; must understand the maritime education/training/assessment to be monitored; must have attended orientations by the Administration and member agency; must have experience in monitoring at least three (3) times; and evaluators additionally must have relevant work experience and simulator-related operational experience when applicable.
At least five (5) monitoring experiences as member; must pass evaluation by the Administration or member agency; must have completed an auditor’s course; and the team leader/members must be duly assigned and specified in the authorization document.
At least: (1) one (1) CHED-OPS maritime education personnel; (2) one (1) MARINA STCW Office personnel; (3) one (1) CHED maritime education evaluator with technical knowledge/experience; and (4) one (1) MARINA STCW Office evaluator with technical knowledge/experience.
At least: (1) one (1) MARINA STCW Office personnel; (2) one (1) personnel and one (1) evaluator with technical knowledge/experience for TESDA or NTC training courses; and (3) one (1) MARINA STCW Office evaluator with technical knowledge/experience.
At least: (1) one (1) personnel from the government agency concerned; (2) one (1) MARINA STCW Office personnel; (3) one (1) evaluator from the government agency concerned with relevant technical knowledge/experience; and (4) one (1) MARINA STCW Office evaluator with relevant technical knowledge/experience.
Opening meeting (scope/objectives, key areas, methods, duration, confidentiality); evaluation proper (interviews, document review, class observation, practical exercise/assessment observation, random interviews, equipment testing, gathering objective evidence); deliberation of findings among the team; closing meeting (presentation of findings and clarifications); and preparation of monitoring log/report signed and countersigned.
Ratings: Conformance (SAT), Non-conformance (Major or Minor), or Observation. Major Non-conformance involves absence of required system elements, or significant doubt that standards/competence outcomes are met; it can also include multiple minors indicating inadequate effectiveness or a minor persistent/not corrected within prescribed period. Minor Non-conformance is a single system failure/lapse in procedure that does not indicate system breakdown or raise doubt that standards/outcomes are met.
The MTI or assessment center is prohibited from carrying out that particular training course or competence assessment until causes are rectified and verified through a reevaluation, conducted within fifteen (15) working days after submission of required evidence.
The MEI must submit a corrective action plan within fifteen (15) working days from receipt of official monitoring results, including interim measures so affected students’ required learning standards are not sacrificed. After approval, the institution is subjected to frequent monitoring; failure may lead to initiation of phasing out by the member agency.
Corrective action must be undertaken within a reasonable period not exceeding three (3) months. Failure to do so results in escalation/treated as a Major Non-conformance.
The METI or assessment center must address the observation within one (1) year.
The monitoring report must be submitted within three (3) working days after completion. Results must be officially communicated within seven (7) days after submission of the report.