Lawmaker files bill seeking to create first maritime school in Barmm

Lawmaker files bill seeking to create first maritime school in Barmm
Apr 23, 2025 https://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/lawmaker-files-bill-seeking-to-crea...

A BILL seeking to create the first maritime school in the Bangsamoro province of Tawi-Tawi has been filed before the parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm).

The Parliament Bill 356, or the proposed Tawi-Tawi Maritime School Act of 2025, authored by Member of the Parliament John Anthony Lim, aims to bring specialized maritime education closer to home for students who would otherwise need to study outside the region or settle for unrelated courses available locally.

“There are many students in the island provinces who are very skilled or have strong potential in maritime work -- especially those familiar with boats or the sea,” Lim said in a statement on Tuesday, April 22.

“This school will help turn that natural ability into a real career,” Lim added.

The Barmm lawmaker noted that Tawi-Tawi, known for its maritime heritage, has long been isolated from the country's main educational and economic hubs.

He said that with limited access to specialized education, many students in the island provinces face financial and geographic challenges in pursuing higher education.

“We want them to be skilled, recognized, and ready to serve the maritime sector,” Lim added.

If enacted into law, the school will offer degree programs such as Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) and Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (BSMarE), as well as short courses like basic safety training, seafarers rating, fishery technology, and vessel operations and maintenance.

He said the school will fall under the supervision of the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (Mafar) and maritime authorities. (SunStar Zamboanga)