Sheen Gonzales
TACLOBAN CITY — A proposed measure aims to establish a state-run maritime college in Eastern Samar to expand access to seafaring education for students in coastal communities.
House Bill No. 7693 seeks to create a College of Maritime Studies at the Eastern Samar State University campus in Guiuan, offering Bachelor of Science in Maritime Transportation and Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering programs aligned with global standards.
The bill was filed by Reps. Christopher Sheen Gonzales and Marcelino Libanan of the 4Ps party-list group, who said the proposal would allow more high school graduates to pursue maritime careers without leaving the province.
Gonzales, the lone congressional district representative of Eastern Samar, noted that many aspiring seafarers currently have to study outside Eastern Samar, increasing costs and limiting access. The planned college aims to address these barriers by providing affordable, state-subsidized education closer to home.
The Philippines remains one of the world’s top sources of seafarers, with hundreds of thousands deployed annually in international shipping.
The measure is now up for deliberation in Congress.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
