In a meeting with the officers and newly elected Corporate Secretary and concurrent Quality Management Representative (QMR) Engr. A. R. Balaoing, President P. V. Vergel de Dios Jr., stressed the importance of a strict implementation of the ISO Quality Management System. He emphasized that the improvement of the system must be continuous to the end that safety standards of PRS and the government are met and satisfied. He quickly added that these safety standards would be in danger of being ignored and nullified if the Single Classification Society Policy of the government is not implemented. The reason is obvious – with the seven (7) local Classification Societies accredited by MARINA not to mention the foreign Classification Societies competing with PRS for the same small domestic fleet – not only will there be cutthroat competition but also laxity in the enforcement of safety rules/ standards. Competition may be good and even ideal in the world of business but classing of vessels for safety purposes is not business. This is why classification societies have to be non-stock, non-profit whose technical competence and integrity are the main recipes for ensuring ship safety. And this is where a safety quality management system would require a modicum of costs to ensure quality in the delivery of services.
Laxity in the enforcement of safety standards is the scary part. When there are many classification societies competing for the same small market, major defects found on vessels under class may be compromised just to get or retain the business from shipowners. Responsible shipowners who know this would not allow this to happen but there are also irresponsible ones in the shipping community. It is for these reasons that the government thru the MARINA has already issued Memo Circular No. 2009-24 which officially adopted the Single Classification Society Policy. Said Circular took effect 31 December 2009 but sadly the same is yet to be implemented. According to the deferment order of then DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza and implemented by the MARINA thru a Maritime Advisory, further “exhaustive consultation” will have to be made with the stakeholders before it can be implemented. Almost three years have passed and no such consultation has been called. Ironically exhaustive consultation had already been made in the past (it took two MARINA Administrations under Administrators Suazo and Bautista) before the said circular was finally issued.
PRS President Atty. P. V. Vergel de Dios Jr. is urging the government thru the MARINA especially under the able and sincere leadership of DOTC Secretary Joseph A. Abaya and MARINA Administrator Dr. Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr. to implement MARINA Circular No. 2009-24 for the good of the maritime industry as well as the public in general.
