OWWA assists 3,816 stranded seafarers

OWWA assists 3,816 stranded seafarers
Yashika F. Torib April 8, 2020 https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/04/08/business/maritime-business/owwa-a...

A total of 3,816 stranded seafarers were recorded by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN), following the suspension of some ship operations due to lockdowns caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

The said number excludes those who are currently in quarantine, according to lawyer Joy Ban-Eg of Marina.

OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said they were already contacted by the agency and were provided accommodation, food and transportation.

The said “tracker” identifies the contact details of the stranded seafarers, the contact person for each group, their current billeting address and the catering company that services their food provisions.

According to Cacdac, OWWA had been contacting the manning agencies of returning seafarers to help in providing their billeting in Metro Manila.

“We have teamed up with Marina and ISWAN to track the returned seafarers. We also have an ongoing effort for seafarers who have completed the 14-day quarantine to return to their home provinces,” Cacdac added in reference to their hatid-sundo service. Buses that originate from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) take the returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Quiapo, Edsa-Monumento or Calamba in Laguna, or to Pampanga province.

Cacdac further said OWWA has been providing food packs for seafarers in their respective
boarding houses and accommodation facilities. “We have been in touch with the Manila City Hall in case they are discriminated upon or threatened with eviction,” he said.

Meanwhile, Marina enjoined all manning agencies to coordinate with concerned government agencies and extend all possible assistance to their seafarers who are stranded during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

Manning agencies are tasked to submit a status report for the proper accounting of their seafarers, and to identify and address their concerns.

In the said advisory, Marina also informed seafarers who are no longer connected with any manning/shipping company to submit their concerns at http://stcw.marina.gov.ph/covid-monitoring-form/seafarers/

$200 financial assistance still pending

Having already been stranded due to the pandemic, seafarers are now relying and impatiently waiting for the much-publicized $200 (about P10,000) financial assistance from OWWA.

These seafarers have had their contracts cut short and their deployment put on hold as part of the preventive measures to keep Covid-19 from spreading. They are now looking forward to the aid following a press released issue by the Department of Labor and Employment stating that: “Overseas Filipino workers whose employment was affected by the pandemic will be [provided by] a one-time P10,000 assistance.”

In a separate interview, however, Cacdac disclosed that the budget for the cash aid is still not available and contrary to rumors, it will not be sourced from the OFW’s welfare fund managed by OWWA, but from a congressional appropriation.

The money will be sourced from the P200-billion fund provided under Republic Act 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” that gives special powers to President Rodrigo Duterte to help sectors badly affected by the Covid-19 lockdowns and prevent the spread of the disease.

He added OWWA still does not have required guidelines for the financial assistance package to affected OFWs.

To avail of the program, OFWs must submit their certificate of employment issued by their agencies. Applications will be evaluated and processed by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office or the nearest regional office of OWWA.

Until such budget is made available, Cacdac reiterated OWWA still provides food and temporary accommodation to stranded seafarers in Manila.