POEA restores validation of OFW exit clearance at NAIA terminals

Starting March 1, 2011, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) leaving the country through Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1, 2 and 3 will have to pass through POEA’s Labor Assistance Center (LAC) for validation of their exit clearance.

POEA Administrator Carlos S. Cao, Jr. said the validation of OFW documents at the airports is necessary to ensure that only workers who are properly documented or have passed through the legal processes are allowed to leave the country. With the validation system in place, POEA is able to check on workers who are carrying tampered or fake travel documents secured through illegal means, Cao added.

Through electronic connectivity, validation of the exit clearance (overseas employment certificate (OEC) or e-receipts) of OFWs can be done in less than a minute. More validation machines will be put in place for a speedier service to the average of 3,500 OFWs who leave the airports daily.

JMG GIVES COURTESY CALL TO NEW POEA ADMINISTRATOR CARLOS CAO

On 06 January, 2011, Atty. Carlos S. Cao, Jr. was appointed by President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino as Administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

The Joint Manning Group welcomed the appointment and the members of the JMG met with Administrator Cao last 24 January 2011 at he EDSA Plaza Shangri‐La Hotel.

During the meeting the JMG members briefed the administrator on the projects of the Group and cited the good working relationship, which JMG has had with the POEA over the past years. They also showed him the plans and projects, which the JMG has successfully pursued with the POEA in ensuring the continued employment of our Filipino seafarers.

Administrator Cao expressed his willingness to partner with the industry, particularly the JMG, on the projects, plans, and programs which he would like to implement for the industry. He recognized the necessity of maintaining the good relationship which the industry has with the government particularly his agency so that projects, plans and programs to improve the industry can be carried out easily and efficiently. Source: JMG

DOLE SIGNALS GO FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STCW MANILA AMENDMENTS

MTC,  a  DOLE  attached  agency,  spearheads  the  implementation  of  the  Manila Amendments  to  the  STCW  Convention  and  Code.  
 
Last  June  of  2010,  the  IMO  Diplomatic  Convention  held  at  PICC  Manila  adapted the  changes  to  the  1995  Standards  for  Training  Certification  and  Watchkeeping Convention  and  Code.

The  STCW  is  the  internationally-set  yardstick  on  training,  certification  and watckeeping  for  seafarers.  Countries  involved  in  the  shipping  trade  are  obliged  to either  meet  or  exceed  the  provisions  of  these  conventions.  

The  Manila  amendments  changed  the  1995  standards  significantly.  New  training requirements  were  identified  including,  training  in  modern  technology  such  as electronic  charts  and  information  systems  or  ECDIS,  marine  environment awareness,  leadership,  and  teamwork.  The  revision/updating  of  several requirements  were  also  made  including,  to  name  a  few,   the  requirement  on hours  of  work  and  rest,  competence  of  personnel  serving  on-board  tanker  vessels, requirements  for  security  and  anti‐piracy  training,  and  new  requirements  for  drug and  alcohol  abuse  prevention  and  improved  standards  on  seafarers’  medical fitness.  The  amendments  also  set  new  certification  requirements  for  able seafarers and  electro‐technical  officers.  

M.V. ”Beluga Nomination” piracy incident : JOINT STATEMENT of the JOINT MANNING GROUP (JMG), and the ASSOCIATED MARINE OFFICERS’ AND SEAFARERS’ UNION OF THE PHILIPPINES (AMOSUP-PTGWO-ITF)

JOINT STATEMENT of the
JOINT MANNING GROUP (JMG), and the
ASSOCIATED MARINE OFFICERS’ AND SEAFARERS’ UNION OF THE PHILIPPINES (AMOSUP-PTGWO-ITF)
05  February  2010,  Manila,  Philippines  
On the M.V. ”Beluga Nomination” piracy incident
 

The  officers  and  representatives  of  five  national  organizations  belonging  to  the  Joint  Manning  Group  (JMG)  and  the  Associated  Marine  Officers’  and  Seamen’s  Union  of  the  Philippines  (AMOSUP‐PTGWO‐ITF)  express  deep  concern  over  the  piracy  incident  involving  the  international  cargo  vessel  M.V.  Beluga  Nomination  that  already  claimed  the  life  of  a  Filipino  Seafarer.  
 
M.V.  Beluga  Nomination  was  attacked  in  the  afternoon  of  22  January  2011  by  a  fast  craft  with  an  unknown  number  of  pirates.  Four  days  later,  an  element  of  the  Combined  Maritime  Forces  (CMF)  in  the  area  attempted  to  rescue  the  vessel’s  crew,  during  which  one  pirate  was  killed.  
 
The  pirates,  in  retaliation,  shot  and  killed  a  Filipino  crew  member.  During  the  incident,  two  crew  members,  one  of  whom  is  a  Filipino,  managed  to  escape.  The  other  two,  one  Filipino  and  one  East  European,  are  still  missing  and  are  now  the  subject  of  continuing  search  and  rescue  operation.