Gov’t allots P 50 million for Maritime Training

MANILA, Philippines —The government has allocated P 50 million for the training of the Marine Deck and Engine Officers for the Updating Management Level Courses (MLCs).

“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,” said Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac.

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.

The funding for the training is government’s 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.