TIM eMagazine Volume 2 Issue 1 | Page 11

TIM TIM eMagazine eMagazine Vol.2 Vol.1 Issue 5 1 OWWA SUBSIDIZES MARINE DECK AND ENGINE OFFICERS’ MLCs Filipino seafarers are considered the world’s most in demand in the seafaring industry because of their impressive qualities in terms of skills, technical-know-how, adaptability, reliability and their ability to communicate in English, to name a few. At least two-thirds of the world’s sea based workers are Filipinos. T he Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) invites all Marine Deck and Engine Officers to grab the opportunity to avail of the `free training’ for the Updating Management Level Courses (MLCs) offered by the agency to its active members. To respond to the clamor of the Filipino sea based workers for financial subsidy to Marine Deck and Engine Officers who were not able to comply to the 2010 Standards of Training and Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention which will be fully implemented on 01 July 2017, the OWWA Board of Trustees, chaired by Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello lll approved the OWWA Board Resolution No. 14, series of 2017, which allocates Php50 Million as assistance to finance the training of the said sea based workers. Entitled to the financial subsidy which amounts to Seven Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (P7,500.00) are active members who have at least three (3) membership contributions to the Fund, and who have not yet availed any OWWA program covering said contributions. “We hope to enroll as many non-compliant active members as we can as support to the plight of our member-seafarers, who because of their failure to take the MLCs prohibited them to progress to the next step,” OWWA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac said. Filipino seafarers are considered the world’s most in demand in the seafaring industry because of their impressive qualities in terms of skills, technical-know-how, adaptability, reliability and their ability to communicate in English, to name a few. At least two-thirds of the world’s sea based workers are Filipinos. Courses offered for Deck Officer are: Navigation at the Management Level, Controlling the Operation of the Ship and Care for Persons on Board at the Management Level, and for Marine Engineer; Marine Engineering at the Management Level, Electrical and Electronic Control Engineering at the Management Level, Maintenance and Repair at the Management Level, Controlling the Operation of the Ship and Care for Persons on Board at the Management Level. Availees must submit Two (2) copies of accomplished application form, 2 copies of 2x2 photos, seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB) and passport, Enrollment confirmation, Certification/Endorsement from Principal/Manning Agency that he/ she has not yet availed of similar scholarship grant. Application for the MLCs may be filed within 90 days from the date of the seafarer-member’s arrival in the Philippines. Implementation of the Program is until June 30, 2017, without extension. 11