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US to train RP seafarers under new pact forged in Washington By GENALYN KABILING August 1, 2009, 11:24pm http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/213896/us-tr...rged-washington WASHINGTON, DC – The United States will soon train Filipino maritime personnel as well as seafarers on how to combat piracy in the high seas. The governments of the Philippines and the US forged a pact to promote cooperation in the field of education and training of maritime personnel to counter piracy off the Somali coast and other dangerous seawaters. On the last day of President Arroyo’s working tour here, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the memorandum of cooperation on maritime counter-piracy training and education sought to promote efficient and safe transport policies and practices. The accord also cited the importance of promoting a healthy maritime transport sector and its contribution in strengthening trade relations. “The problem of international piracy has been a serious cause of concern. The signing of the agreement between the Philippines and the United States hopes to send the message to the international pirates that the US is solidly backing the Philippines and its seafarers in this case,” Remonde said in a press briefing here. “The salient provision of the agreement is involving training for self-defense of Filipino seamen, training of some Navy Seal-type operation for certain elements of the Philippine Navy to enable our Armed Forces deal better with piracy in our part of the world,” he added. During their meeting at the White House, Mrs. Arroyo and US President Barack Obama agreed to forge closer cooperation in fighting terrorism and other security threats. Under the agreement on counter-piracy, the areas of cooperation include exchanges of information on best practices with respect to the enhancement of vessel security against threats of pirate attacks; piracy and armed attacks as elements of current security threats and patterns; international conventions, legislation, and regulations concerned with piracy; execution of response plans for pirate attacks; drills and exercises to better respond to piracy; and exploring other avenues of exchange of maritime students and faculty on mutually accepted terms. The cooperation accord will tap the resources and facilities of the United States Merchant Marine Academy as well as the maritime personnel training institutions of the Philippines. |