Seamen Exempted

source: mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines - Seafarers will no longer have to present their overseas employment certificate (OEC) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for validation after the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) issued a memorandum exempting them from this procedure.

Citing a one-page Memorandum Circular No. 1, POEA administrator Hans Cacdac said in a statement that the measure, which took effect last week, aims to decongest the long lines of OFWs, who are having their OECs validated at their Labor Assistance Center (LAC) in NAIA.

“This will declog the overflow of OFWs queuing at the Labor Assistance Center for the validation of their travel exit documents, departing seafarers, which comprise minority of worker deployment,” Cacdac said.

Historically, seamen compose only about 20 percent of the country’s total deployment.

Instead, he said manning agencies will now be required to submit the clear copies of the e-receipts or OECs of the seafarers not later than 10 a.m. at the POEA’s Seabased Center at the POEA head office in Mandaluyong City after their departure from the airport. “We urge manning agencies to strictly comply with the requirement for the convenience of their seafarers as the process will allow additionally quality time to bond with their families, instead of queuing at the airport for the validation of their travel documents.”

source: mb.com.ph