The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Commission on Higher Education(CHED) signed a Memorandum of Agreement ( MOA ) on monitoring shipboard training for maritime students at the National Headquarters in Port Area, Manila, today, 02 February 2023.

PCG Commandant, CG Admiral Artemio Abu, and CHED Chairman, Prof Popoy De Vera III, presided over the signing ceremony.

Under the said MOA, the CHED will develop a database of students reported by Maritime Higher Education Institutions (MHEIs) to be on board domestic ships for training.

Moreover, the CHED Regional Office, where a particular MHEI is based, shall capture data for proper monitoring of students on board domestic ships undergoing training.

For its part, the PCG shall conduct interviews with cadets and Shipboard Training Officer (STO) to verify if the cadets are receiving proper training.

The PCG shall also check if ships with cadets on board have training schedules and are utilizing the cadets only for ship works related to the objective of the onboard training program.

Furthermore, the PCG shall validate the actual number of cadets on board based on the allowable number of deck and engine cadets as provided in the relevant regulations of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

The PCG shall also ensure that only the cadets physically present on board are reflected on the official crew list to counter some practices in which some cadets are serving in their shore-based offices instead of serving on board.

Finally, the PCG shall report its findings to CHED to ensure that all maritime students receive proper shipboard training as part of their educational curriculum.