Title
Revised OWWA Seafarers Upgrading Program Guidelines
Law
Owwa Memorandum Of Instructions No. 001
Decision Date
Jan 20, 2007
Mariano D. Roque's memorandum establishes updated guidelines for the Seafarers Upgrading Program, providing training assistance of up to P7,500 for active OWWA members to enhance their skills in compliance with international maritime standards.
seafarers
upgrading program
training assistance

Policy change and program purpose

  • OWWA institutes policy changes to the Seafarers Upgrading Program (SU) to improve and update the program regularly.
  • The program is designed to ensure competitive advantage of Filipino seafarers in meeting International Maritime Organization (IMO) competency standards.
  • The policy changes are instituted to be consistent with the stipulations under item 3, provision B of MOI 003, series of 2004.
  • The memorandum expressly frames the SUP as a training assistance program with OWWA assuming training costs up to specified limits.

Nature and amount of training grant

  • The SUP is in the form of training assistance to Filipino seafarers.
  • OWWA assumes training costs in maritime training centers/institutions up to a maximum of PHP 7,500/course.
  • The maximum of PHP 7,500/course is inclusive of the meal and transportation allowances.
  • The PHP 7,500/course limit applies in the case of scholars referred at National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) in Tacloban City.

Entitlement rules for active OWWA members

  • All Filipino seafarers who are active OWWA members are entitled to avail of the program.
  • A single contribution entitles a seafarer to training assistance to a course of his choice.
  • Additional (subsequent) entitlements to the SUP benefit are allowed every after three (3) recorded payments of OWWA membership contributions.

Availment deadlines and extended entitlement

  • Application for SUP may be filed within 90 days from the date of the seafarer’s arrival in the Philippines for vacation.
  • Application for SUP may also be filed following the expiration of his employment contract under the governing MOI No. 003, series of 2004.
  • Seafarers who have not yet availed of the SUP benefit but have three (3) or more OWWA contributions may still avail of the program.
  • Entitlement for seafarers with three (3) or more OWWA contributions must be availed within five (5) years from his last employment as a seafarer, under MOI No. 3, series of 2004.

Approved course offerings under SUP

  • SUP offers maritime courses subject to regular review through consultation with maritime industry and other concerned industry players.
  • SUP course offerings include Deck courses, Engine courses, Specialized and Safety courses, and Culinary, Gallery and Steward Department courses.
  • Deck courses offered include:
    • Cargo Handling and Care of Cargo
    • Deck Watchkeeping
    • Electronic Chart Display Information System
    • General Operatoras Course
    • Radar Navigation, Radar Plotting and Use of ARPA
    • Radar Simulator Course
    • Radio Electronics and Officeras Course
    • Ship Simulator and Bridge Teamwork
    • Trim and Stability
  • Engine courses offered include:
    • Auxiliary System
    • Control Engineering
    • Electrotechnology
    • Engine Room Simulator Course
    • Engine Watchkeeping
    • Marine Diesel Engineering
    • Marine Ref and Aircon
  • Specialized and Safety courses offered include:
    • Advanced Training in Fire Fighting
    • Crisis Management
    • Crowd Management
    • Dangerous Hazardous and Harmful Cargoes
    • General Tanker Familiarization
    • Lathe Machine Courses
    • Marine Pollution Annex I
    • Marine Pollution Annex II
    • Medical Care
    • Medical First Aid
    • Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boat
    • Shipboard Welding Course
    • Shore Based Fire Fighting
    • Specialized Training in Chemical Tanker
    • Specialized Training in Liquefied Gas Tanker
    • Specialized Training in Oil Tanker
  • Culinary, Gallery and Steward Department courses offered include:
    • Bread and Pastry Techniques
    • Catering Management
    • Galley and Provision Management
    • Messman/Housekeeping Course
    • Advanced Messman Course
    • Cold Kitchen
    • Comprehensive Bartending
    • Fine Dining
    • International Cooking
    • Japanese Cooking
    • Proper Nutrition for Shipsa Crew
    • Specialized Cooking/Specialty Cuisine (Arabian, British, Bulgarian, Chinese, Dutch, German, Greek, Indian, Korean, etc.)
    • Victualing
    • Waiter/Waitress Training
    • Advanced Baking
    • Basic Baking
    • Basic Cake Design
    • Basic Culinary (Basic Cooking)
    • Food Server and Bartender Basics

Admission requirements and submission to RWO

  • An applicant-seafarer qualifies for the program by submitting required documents at any OWWA Regional Welfare Office (RWO) of his convenience.
  • Proof of OWWA membership/s is required, through O.Rs./E-Card/Certification from OWWA-MPC, among others.
  • The applicant must submit an Accomplished Applicant Form.
  • The applicant must submit Seamanas Identification and Record Book (SIRB).
  • The applicant must submit a Pre-Qualification and Admission Report issued by the concerned training center/institution.
  • The applicant must submit 1 x 1 photo (2 copies).
  • The applicant must submit a Latest Community Tax Certificate.

Training center/institution qualifications

  • The program is conducted in coordination with reputable training centers/institutions that meet at least minimum standards set by local/international maritime authorities and the maritime industry.
  • RWOs must ensure training centers/institutions have a valid training permit or recognition to offer specific courses issued by MTC, TESDA, CHED, and other authorized government institutions.
  • RWOs must ensure training centers/institutions have no pending administrative case with MTC and any private or government institution.
  • RWOs must ensure training centers/institutions have no previous record/s of violation of MTC or any government standards.
  • RWOs must ensure training centers/institutions have required/appropriate training curricula, facilities and equipment.
  • RWOs must ensure training centers/institutions can accommodate OWWA scholars based on its training policy.
  • All government accredited and recognized training centers/institutions offering maritime related courses meeting the above criteria are qualified under the program.
  • Each RWO must prepare comprehensive lists of identified training centers/institutions with their corresponding courses to serve as the applicant’s directory.
  • An SUP applicant is given free-hand to choose the preferred center/institution and the appropriate upgrading course from among the listed options.

Application processing workflow and monitoring

  • Processing follows a step-by-step sequence:
    • The applicant secures and accomplishes the Application Form and submits it with complete requirements to the concerned RWO.
    • The RWO screens the applicant, evaluates eligibility, and evaluates submitted documentary requirements.
    • If the applicant complies with all requirements, the RWO encodes data, issues a scholarship voucher, and orients the applicant on program policies, guidelines, and procedures.
    • The applicant reports to the training center/institution for enrollment and training.
    • The training center/institution admits the RWO referred scholar for training.
    • Upon completion of training, the training center/institution sends a statement of account and forwards a Certificate of Completion to the concerned RWO for co-signing of Regional Supervisor.
    • The applicant reports to the RWO to claim the Certificate of Completion.
    • The RWO releases the Certificate of Completion to the scholar.
    • The RWO processes the voucher for payment of tuition/training fee.
  • Where there are no MTC accredited training centers/institutions, or where there are no IMO listed upgrading courses, applicants are referred to and monitored at the nearest RWO where the conditions exist.
  • Processing for SUP courses availed at National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) in Tacloban City is handled by the RWO where the seafarer originally filed his SUP application, consistent with MOI No. 003, series of 2004.

Centralized monitoring and clearing of claims

  • The Membership Processing Center (MPC) serves as the initial clearing house for SUP availment when there is no operational database networking system at the Secretariat to avoid double availment.
  • Once available, the Management Information System (MIS) automatically takes over the function of clearing all claims and availments.
  • RWOs verification is done through electronic mail.
  • The MPC issues an electronic copy of Certification of Availment/Non-Availment.

Repealing clause and effectivity

  • All Secretariat issuances or parts inconsistent with the memorandum’s provisions are repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
  • The memorandum takes effect immediately upon adoption on 20 Jan. 2007.

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