OWWA allots PHP50-M for training of marine deck, engine officers

The government has allocated PHP50 million for the the training of the Marine Deck and Engine Officers for the Updating Management Level Courses (MLCs), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said Thursday. (Photo: Overseas Workers Welfare Administration/ Facebook)

MANILA—The government has allocated PHP50 million for the the training of the Marine Deck and Engine Officers for the Updating Management Level Courses (MLCs), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said Thursday.

With this, OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac urged seafarers to avail free training being offered by the agency.

“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,” he said in a statement.

The OWWA Board of Trustees, chaired by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello lll approved the OWWA Board Resolution No. 14, series of 2017, allocating the said amount.

This is in response 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 July 1, 2017.

Cacdac noted that entitled to the financial subsidy amounting PHP7,500.00 are active members who have at least three membership contributions to the Fund, and who have not yet availed any OWWA program covering said contributions.

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.

For Marine Engineer the available courses are: 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.

Those who are interested to apply are required to submit two copies of accomplished application form, two copies of 2 x 2 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.

The International Convention on STCW, 1978 sets qualification standards for masters, officers and watch personnel on seagoing merchant ships.