Author: admin_iolcos

The OFW Hospital, the country’s first hospital dedicated to Filipino migrant workers and their families, is expanding services while keeping its promise of providing free health care.

This initiative was created to thank our modern-day heroes, the OFWs, for their enormous contribution to the economy.

The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Hospital and Diagnostic Center or commonly known as the OFW Hospital opened last May 02, 2022. Located in San Fernando, Pampanga, the seven-story, 100-bed facility sits on a 1.5-hectare land that was donated by the provincial government of Pampanga.

OFWs planning to conduct their PEME or post-employment medical exam can avail of that service here for free.

Aside from the OFW, their immediate family members can utilize this medical facility FREE of charge.

The new administration of the Maritime Industry Authority, or MARINA, has suspended the revised policy for the safe manning of domestic ships.

MARINA Advisory 2022-43 was signed by Administrator Hernani Fabia, suspending the implementation of the MARINA Circular MS-2020-03 entitled “Revised Rules and Regulations on Safe Manning Ships Operating in Philippine Waters”, particularly the tables of manning complement.

It says this is in response to the various issues and concerns relating to the circular and that its implementation will be held in abeyance until such time that the issuance of a more rationalize table of manning complement, while meeting the peak workload manning requirement of a ship, has been developed by the Authority.

Observers see the Advisory as having flaws because it says, “Accordingly, the issuance/renewal of Safe Manning Certificate/Minimum Safe Manning Certificate shall be in accordance with the tables of manning complement as prescribed under Section VI of MARINA Memorandum Circular No. 148 of 1999 entitled “Amendments to Chapter XVIII of the Philippine Merchant Marine Rules and Regulations (PMMRR) 1997 on Minimum Safe Manning for Ships in the Domestic Trade.”

They argue that the MARINA Memorandum Circular No. 148 of 1999 was already repealed by MARINA Circular No. 2012-06 entitled Revised Minimum Safe Manning for Ships Operating in Philippine Domestic Waters.

Furthermore, critics say, the move to suspend the latest MARINA Circular MS-2020-03 is detrimental to the safe operations of domestic ships because the revisions made aim to ensure that all Philippine-registered ships are manned by a sufficient number of qualified, competent, and certificated officers and ratings who can safely operate the ship at all times.

Courtesy: MARINO WORLD

Mr. Samuel Batalla took his oath as the new OIC-Executive Director of the STCW Office of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) on September 12.

Batalla was the Officer-In-Charge-Chief for the Certification Division during the term of former MARINA OIC Administrator Narciso Vingson, Jr. who issued the STCW Advisory No. 2019-05, then “Clarifications and Supplemental Guidelines on the Implementation of STCW Circular No. 2018-02, Entitled “Standards for Mandatory Training Courses under the STCW Convention, 1978, As Amended.”

With a master’s degree from the World Maritime University (WMU) Master of Science (MSc) in Maritime Affairs specializing in Maritime Administration, Batalla was the OIC-Director of the MARINA Regional Office (MRO) 12 before he was appointed to head the STCW office.

Batalla took his oath before MARINA Administrator Hernani Fabia, together with Atty. Sharon Aledo, OIC of the Legal Service Division and Atty. Eusebia Boco, OIC of the MARINA Regional Office VIII.

IOLCOS MARITIME AGENCIES FAR EAST INC joins the nation in the celebration of 2022 NATIONAL MARITIME WEEK. Let’s all celebrate with Theme: New Technologies For Greener Shipping”. Also its a week for recognizing our beloved Seafarers for their invaluable contribution to world trade and the economy by conducting sea transport.

Thank you for all your priceless service to the world. You are truly the Global Heroes .

Salute to all our Seafarers around the World!

Safe Sailing Everyone .