TIM eMagazine Vol.1 Issue 5
OWWA requested
funding of sea-based
O
nce the proposed OWWA charter
bill becomes implementable soon,
the maritime groups recommend
more funding for seafarers' welfare
and benefits. It will be known as
Overseas Workers Welfare Act,
which had passed third reading in both houses
of Congress and up for submission to Malacanan
for approval.
Note that under this charter, OWWA would
derive funds for the first time for its operations
and salaries of personnel from the national
government, but will continue to receive
contributions from OFWs as practiced.
Those long-timed members of OWWA, with
ten years of membership, would be given rebates
in cash or financial assistance which would
depend on the actuarial study that OWWA
would be commissioning later on.
Meanwhile, the Integrated Seafarers of the
Philippines (ISP) proposed fund allocation to
seafarers' education and training, health care,
and for the re-integration programs. ISP made
the motion during the OWWA consultationdialogue with sea-based sectors recently.
On record, fund balance of the sea-based
sector as of December 2015 remained to be
P3,878,308,767. Broken down, P1.5B of which
is the total amount contributed by seafarers so
far, while that of the employers' (shipowners)
is P2.3B. These came from $10 contribution of
seafarers and $15 contributions of ship owners
per contract.
ISP proposed subsidy also to the cadetship
program as well as the bridging program for
mechanical engineers. It said that setting aside
P1M a year budget for livelihood business grant
for seafarers would go a long way in making reintegration successful.
The group also requested for P100t a year
budget for dreaded diseases and terminal
illness other than Philhealth entitlement. It also
proposed entering into agreements with existing
hospital where OWWA can subsidize part of the
hospitalization cost of seafarers. If OWWA will
be allowed, it also proposed setting up of selfsustainng 100 beds in Manila that will cater to
seafarers and their families' medical needs and
hospitalization at low cost.
Finally, ISP proposed for those sea-based
workers who may be displaced due to depression
of the global shipping market, the following: full
career skills upgrading, review courses of marine
officers who would like to take licensure exams,
and those be provided allowances while on
training and review.
ISP proposed subsidy also to the cadetship program as well as the bridging
program for mechanical engineers. It said that setting aside P1M a year
budget for livelihood business grant for seafarers would go a long way in
making re-integration successful.
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