The UPHSD College of Maritime Education is devising all measures to effectively assist its maritime cadets to enable them to undergo their on board training at the earliest possible time. While most cadets prefer to be accommodated on board international vessels for the conduct of their shipboard or on board training (OBT), domestic vessels likewise provide significant number of OBT berths for maritime cadets.
While cadets are paid their allowances on board international vessels, cadets normally pay for the extra cost of board and lodging while undergoing shipboard training on board domestic vessels.
This means that cadets who are not able to undergo on board training in international vessels have the option to go on board inland or domestic vessels instead. The reality is that some cadets have to find ways to work in order to raise funds for payment of their 4th year tuition, and likewise the board and lodging and other fees that are being charged by inland shipping or domestic vessels for the conduct of cadets' on board training.
There are a few local shipping companies that do not actually charge cadets for their on board training but those that charge significantly outnumber those that do not charge.
Admiral Wilfredo D Tamayo PCG(Ret), Senior Executive Vice President for Maritime Affairs of the University of Perpetual Help System has directed the Deans and Shipboard Training Officers of both maritime colleges in Las Piñas and Biñan campuses to closely monitor the progress and continue to assist their respective cadets in the conduct of their on board training under the long-standing guiding principle of the University of Perpetual Help System that Character Building is Nation Building.
According to Admiral Tamayo, this is the best time for the government to come up with strategies and measures to alleviate the burden or financial hardships of cadets who need to work their way to complete their on board training, subsequently graduate and take the licensure exam. The advent of providing government owned, maintained, and operated training vessels and/or subsidy/scholarship for cadets who will undergo on board training on inter island vessels, in partnership with maritime schools, may now have to be given due course. After all, Filipino seafarers continue to be the "seafarers of choice worldwide" and in fact, have been contributing more than USD 6 Billion annually to our national economy.