MANILA – The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), through the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Office, led by MARINA Administrator Robert A Empedrad AFP (Ret) and STCW Office Executive Director VADM Rene V Medina AFP (Ret), held an awarding ceremony for the three (3) outgoing members of the Board of Examiners (BOE) last November 9, 2021.

The ceremony was attended by MARINA STCW Office Officials and employees, together with the Board of Examiners team and the awardees.

Vice Admiral Rene V. Medina convened the ceremony with his welcoming message to the attendees, directing his remarks to the three (3) awardees, and asking them to stand up before everyone to be recognized.

Subsequently, VADM Robert A Empedrad, VADM Medina and Capt. Jeffrey P. Solon were invited up front to award the Plaque of Honorable Service to Capt. Reynaldo M. Delos Santos, Capt. Arnel H. Gollaba and Engr. Diovanne B. Jover, respectively. Signed by the MARINA Administrator, the said Plaques were awarded to the three (3) outgoing BOE members in recognition of their exceptional and invaluable contributions as members of the BOE of the MARINA.

The first to have received the award was Capt. Delos Santos, a graduate of BS in Marine Transportation from the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA). He is a licensed Master Mariner with seagoing experience of more than 30 years, 17 years of which he served as Master Mariner. After his retirement, he applied as a Member of the Board of Marine Deck Officers (BOMDO) and was appointed on November 8, 2018.

The second awardee who also received the plaque was Capt. Gollaba, a graduate of BS in Marine Transportation from the PMMA. He is a licensed Master Mariner and had an onboard experience as Master Mariner for more than 5 years. He also became part of different Maritime Training Institutions where he served as Instructor and Recruitment Officer. On November 12, 2018, he was appointed as Member of the BOMDO.

The third awardee was Engr. Jover who graduated from Central Philippine University with a BS degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Maritime Education at John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University. He is a licensed Electro-Technical Officer and had an onboard experience of more than 6 years. He also served as an Instructor / Assessor of different Maritime Training Institutions from 2013 to 2017. He was appointed as a Member of the Board of Engine Ratings (BOERA) on 08 November 2018.

During the course of his speech, the Administrator also requested a short message from the awardees. Each of them thanked MARINA for all the experiences they gained for the three years of working with the Authority. “I have found working here to be inspiring”, expressed Capt. Gollaba.

The Administrator added that their messages inspired him to be a better public servant. Sharing the Bible verse from Galatians 6:10, he expressed that the said verse speaks what the three BOE members have done in the past three years. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

VADM Empedrad, VADM Medina, with the STCW Office Division Chiefs and the rest of the MARINA Officials and employees, thanked the said outgoing BOE professionals for their shared knowledge and expertise to the field of examination and assessment, and their invaluable service and commitment to the MARINA as a whole.

The awarding ceremony was concluded with a video presentation of the undertakings of the three (3) professionals, including their training, workshops, discussions, consultations, assessments conducted, as well as celebrations they have enjoyed together with their colleagues in the maritime industry.