LAWMAKERS have filed proposed legislation to establish Eastern Samar’s first state-run maritime college, opening new pathways for high school graduates from rural communities to pursue their dreams of becoming globally competitive seafarers.
Under House Bill No. 7693, a College of Maritime Studies would be established at the Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) campus in the coastal municipality of Guiuan.
The proposed college would offer the Bachelor of Science in Maritime Transportation (BSMT) and Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (BSME) programs that are compliant with the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Eastern Samar Lone District Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales, who previously served as mayor of Guiuan, introduced the measure together with 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan, who is also from the province.
“We want to afford a greater number of high school graduates access to state-subsidized maritime education so that they can eventually secure high-paying careers at sea and achieve a higher standard of living for their families,” Gonzales said.
“Right now, many high school graduates who aspire to pursue maritime education must travel far from home to enroll in established maritime colleges,” Gonzales pointed out.
“Our aim is to significantly reduce geographic and financial barriers to maritime education,” he added.
For many years, the Philippines has been among the world’s leading suppliers of seafarers to the global merchant shipping industry.
An estimated 490,000 Filipino seafarers serve on board international merchant vessels each year—from bulk carriers and container ships to oil and chemical tankers, as well as cruise ships.
The Philippines’ strong supply of seafarers has long been supported by the English proficiency and technical training of Filipino maritime professionals.
Filipino seafarers primarily compete with maritime workers from China, India, Indonesia, and Russia in the global labor market.
Gonzales has championed improved public access to state-subsidized higher education. He earlier filed two separate House bills seeking to upgrade the existing ESSU extension units in the municipalities of Balangiga and Arteche into full-fledged campuses.
The House committee on higher and technical education has already endorsed both bills for plenary approval.
