QuestionsQuestions (DBM NATIONAL BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. 450)
The ARB is a document issued to a performing artist that attests to the artist’s competence for the job indicated thereon. It contains information on the artist’s training, academic and skills tests, overseas employment history, and personal data.
A performing artist who has been granted a Competency Certificate by the NMYC shall be eligible for issuance of an ARB.
POEA required the applicant to be in possession of a booking confirmation from a foreign employer/promoter and a licensed agency. The requirement was stated to be only on an interim basis to control the number of applicants.
The NMYC must transmit: (a) Academic and Skills Training Certificates; (b) Performing Artist Information Sheet duly certified as true and correct by the artist and training center; and (c) 2 pcs. 2x2 colored picture of the artist. The transmittal must also indicate the date of the artist’s personal appearance at POEA.
The artist must present the original copy of the Certificate of Competency and the Booking Confirmation (interim requirement) to the POEA.
The artist is assessed a fee of P300 for the Artist Record Book.
After POEA finds the required documents in order and after payment of the ARB fee, an ARB is assigned to the artist. The artist’s signature and left and right thumbmarks must be affixed in the presence of POEA.
POEA notifies the artist that the same document shall be released to the licensed agency only after the artist’s employment contract is approved by POEA.
Upon presentation by the licensed agency to the Employment Contract Processing Branch of the artist’s Employment Contract, Certificate of Eligibility, and RFP (Request for Processing), the Employment Branch endorses the ARB and booking confirmation of the artist to that branch.
Only an artist with a valid ARB shall be processed by POEA for deployment. Submission of the ARB is required for processing the employment contract, for pre-departure showcase preview of group performers, and for exit clearances at NAIA and other exit points.
The ARB remains valid for contract processing only after it is amended by POEA upon submission of a clearance from the training center or licensed agency which originally endorsed the artist’s ARB application. The clearance must be issued no later than 30 days from notice.
The ARB has a three-year validity period.
Grounds include: (1) falsification of requisite documents or false statements in ARB application; (2) acquisition of a second ARB without declaring and/or surrendering the first; (3) tampering with the ARB; and (4) using the ARB for activities/purposes violative of POEA rules and regulations governing overseas employment.
Parties found to have contributed to the causes may be put in a POEA watchlist or blacklist or be meted sanctions under the Schedule of Penalties for licensed agencies and authorized training centers. POEA must also provide lists of suspended/canceled ARBs and watchlisted/blacklisted individuals to the FIAC, NMYC, authorized training centers, and licensed agencies.
It became mandatory for contract processing beginning October 1, 1994.
It establishes a regulatory condition for POEA processing and deployment—i.e., without a valid ARB, the artist cannot be processed for employment contract processing, pre-departure showcase preview, or exit clearance.