What fate awaits Filipino seafarers?
Our house cat, Frankie, is in a reflective mood with the European Commission convening presently in Brussels to discuss the state of Filipino compliance with the STCW Convention, amongst other matters. He knows that reports of a six-month extension being granted to the Philippines are nothing more than mere speculations. How could there be such a decision before the Brussels meeting? On the other hand, the EC might just consider a six-month reprieve in light of Manila’s restructured system of STCW administration. This would stave off for the time being a proposed EU ban on Filipino seafarers. But what earth-shaking changes, asks our perspicacious cat, could possibly happen in the short span of six months? ~Barista Uno
