The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has formally commenced the Second Independent Evaluation (IE) of the Philippine Seafarer’s Identity Document (SID) in compliance with International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 185 or the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003, as amended.

The evaluation, scheduled from 05 to 16 May 2025, is spearheaded by Dr. John William M. Campbell, an esteemed ILO Evaluator and global authority in International Labor Standards and Biometrics & Identity Management. The review encompasses a thorough assessment of the country’s SID issuance, authentication, and data protection systems to verify adherence to international security and identity verification protocols.

As part of the process, Dr. Campbell will conduct on-site audits at MARINA’s Regional Offices in Iloilo and Cebu, ensuring that field-level operations align with central system standards and international best practices.

In her welcome remarks, MARINA Administrator Sonia B. Malaluan emphasized the importance of the initiative:

“It is our responsibility to provide seafarers with secure, reliable, and globally recognized identity documents. This evaluation is a critical step in affirming and enhancing our systems to better serve Filipino seafarers and support their mobility across borders.”

Dr. Campbell acknowledged the agency’s continued advancements, stating:

“In 2019, I was deeply impressed by MARINA’s dedication and the robustness of its SID system—by far, the most secure and best implemented in the world. Today, I am equally impressed, particularly with the comprehensive documentation submitted in 2024.”

The Philippine SID, embedded with biometric and machine-readable features, is a vital travel document facilitating the smooth transit of Filipino seafarers through international ports and borders. The outcome of this independent evaluation is expected to reaffirm MARINA’s compliance with ILO C185 and bolster national efforts to safeguard and empower the Filipino maritime workforce.

Source: MARINA