International shipping firms hire MPCF-Legazpi and Cam Sur grads after MARINA, CHEd and EMSA grant accreditation

Representatives of international shipping companies attend the graduation ceremonies of Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF) both at the two campuses of the schools (Legazpi City and Canaman, Camarines Sur) as they came for the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the school on the hiring of graduates.

These companies include Elburg Shipping Firm of Italy, Misuga Kaiun Shipping Co. of Japan, Marlow Navigation of Europe, Magsaysay Shipping Co. of the Philippines, Veritas Shipping Co. of Europe and other maritime enterprises operating globally. They have come to establish linkages with MPCF for the purpose of hiring qualified graduates. It now speaks of the quality of education at Mariners in which shipping companies come to the school.

This development surfaced after the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) have made an announcement that no other Maritime Higher Education Institution (MHEI) in the Bicol Region except the Mariners Schools are granted the accreditation to offer Maritime Degree Courses.

The degrees of Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) and Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (BSMarE) are courses designed to train maritime cadets to become ship officers.

For the record, only 23 maritime schools out of more than 90 all over the country have passed the scrutiny of the multi-agency audit.

In 2014, these agencies conducted a performance evaluation on schools which included checks on the system the institutions follow, infrastructure, maritime laboratories and qualification of instructors. The Mariners schools have passed these inspections.


(Left picture) A scene at the Graduation/Ring-Hop ceremonies at MPCF Legazpi. (Right picture) The parents and members of the 2015 graduating batch of MPCF-Camarines Sur as they attend Baccalaureate Mass at the JCJ Sports Complex presided by his Grace, the Rev. Msgr. Rolando Tirona, O.C.D., D.D., Archbishop of Caceres.

Meanwhile, MPCF President Dante La. Jimenez reiterated the importance of the partnership between students and parents. “While parents do their best to send their broods to become Seafarers, it is equally important that once enrolled, the cadets should reciprocate these sacrifices by making good in their academic performance”, Commodore Jimenez said.

On the query what the Mariners schools possess as they were able to hurdle the scrutiny of the multi-agency audit, “MPCF have complied with the requirements asked from maritime schools especially on the aspect that the quality of education should be at par with internationally-accepted levels to be able to graduate globally-competitive Seafarers. Our schools have seen to it that we have world-class facilities, qualified instructors and a system compliant with international standards”, MPCF President Jimenez further disclosed.

MARINA Administrator graces Mariners-Legazpi graduation rites:
bats for sustained excellence in maritime education

MARINA ADMINISTRATOR Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr. (right picture) honors MPCF 2015 graduating batch as Commencement Speaker. (Left photo) The graduates as they listen to his message.

MPCF, Legazpi City – Parents, graduates, faculty, staff and administration personnel of the Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF) this city on March 31, 2015 welcomed Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Maximo Mejia, Jr. as guest of honor and speaker in the school’s 29th Commencement Exercises.

In his message, MARINA Administrator Mejia challenged the MPCF to sustain the excellence it has established in giving quality maritime education to future Seafarers which has earned the Institution the accreditation of MARINA, European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd). He likewise enjoined the graduates to make use productively of the knowledge they gained from their Alma Mater.

MPCF’s 29th Commencement Exercises was held at the JCJ Gymnasium, MPCF Annex Campus, Rawis, Legazpi City at 1 p.m. kicking off with the Ring-Hop ceremonies.

MPCF President Dante La. Jimenez, meanwhile, said “With the CHEd, MARINA and EMSA accreditation recently granted to Mariners, the thrust now of the school is to sustain its compliance to the standards set-forth by the agencies, for the institution to be able to continue to graduate globally competitive Seafarers as urged by the International Maritime Organization.”

“On this occasion, the Board of Trustees, Faculty and Staff of Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation – Legazpi City welcome our Speaker Administrator Mejia as we congratulate and thank the graduates and their parents for this accomplishment and for allowing Mariners to be instrumental in the achievement they have reached,” Jimenez also said.

With his training and recent assignment in Europe, Administrator Mejia’s experiences boost his stewardship of the Agency. Many developments have cropped up in the Industry after he took over the helm of the agency, affecting not only businesses but maritime schools, as well.

Under his watch, Republic Act 10635 mandating MARINA as the sole agency to manage the affairs of the Maritime Industry including education and training was implemented. The “one-stop shop” concept which has been the clamor of stakeholders in the Maritime and Shipping Industry in the country is set in place.

MARINA and CHEd recently audited maritime schools in the Philippines to determine their compliance with international standards on the system, infrastructure, updated maritime laboratory equipment, and qualification of Instructors as required by the EMSA. The evaluation has raised the standard of maritime education in the country. Only schools which passed the strict accreditation processes are now allowed to offer degree courses in Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) and Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (BSMarE) for future Seafarer-officers.

FROM LEFT: MPCF BOT Member EVP Merle J. San Pedro, Administrator Mejia, MARINA Bicol Regional Director Jaime Bea, and MPC-Naga President Dr. Marilissa J. Ampuan at the luncheon tendered in honor of the guest.

MPCF in Legazpi City and MPCF in Canaman, Camarines Sur are the only Maritime Higher Education Institutions (MHEIs) in the Bicol Region which hurdled the MARINA, CHEd, and EMSA audits.

Mariners-Legazpi has 638 students enrolled in BSMT, BSMarE, BS in Customs Administration, Tourism, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Hospitality Management, Cruise Ship Management Course, Seaman’s Culinary Course and other short-term courses accredited by TESDA.