Question & AnswerQ&A (POEA MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 63 S. 1992)
The purpose of POEA Memorandum Circular No. 63, Series of 1992 is to provide guidelines on the processing of seafarers' employment contracts during weekends and holidays to ensure emergency deployment and urgent replacement of Filipino seafarers.
The designated venue for processing seafarers' employment contracts during weekends and holidays is the Labor Assistance Center (LAC) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Licensed manning agencies, accredited shipping companies, and the seafarers concerned may avail of the processing facility during weekends and holidays.
Requests must be submitted to the Labor Assistance Center at least three (3) hours before the expected time of departure of the seafarers concerned.
The documentary requirements include: a letter request for processing, confirmed ticket with xerox copies, two copies of the one-page contract of seafarers, valid Seaman's Service Record Book (SSRB), valid Seaman's Registration Card (SRC), seafarer's info sheet, seafarer's ID sheet, and an undertaking with specific assurances regarding accreditation, position availability, travel timing, proof of urgent requests, presentation of tickets and receipts, and penalty conditions.
The undertaking must affirm: the foreign principal is accredited and vessel enrolled, salary scale is approved, the position is available and seafarer is not on the watchlist, seafarer departs within the weekend/holiday timeframe, proofs of urgent crew requests are submitted, tickets and official receipts are presented, and acknowledgment that misrepresentation will lead to license suspension after investigation.
The processing fee is Two Hundred Fifty Pesos (P250.00) plus corresponding welfare fund contributions, and payment must be made immediately on the following working day.
Misrepresentation will be penalized by suspension of license after due investigation in accordance with POEA Rules and Regulations.
POEA copies of documents are endorsed to the Employment Contract Processing Branch (ECPB), which coordinates updating of job order balances, monitors payment of fees, and endorses documents such as contracts, info sheets, and Overseas Employment Certificates (OEC) to the Central Records Division and the Philippine Tourism Authority.
The concerned agencies or companies claim the original OEC from the Employment Contract Processing Branch (ECPB) for the purpose of refund of travel tax.