MANILA, Aug. 26 (PIA) — Starting 15 September 2016, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) will be implementing the online registration system for seafarers.
“This system improvement is in line with our objective to provide speedy and efficient service to our clientele, specifically to the overseas Filipino workers,” said Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III.
Bello said the implementation of online registration was approved by the POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 13 Series of 2016.
The resolution instructs the POEA to replace the Seafarers Registration Certificates (SRC) with the online seafarers’ registration.
The online SRC system, Secretary Bello said, is aligned with President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s directive to government offices to review all systems and requirements to avoid duplication of functions, eliminate queuing, and facilitate delivery of services to the public.
Bello said the online registry shall benefit around 50,000 SRC applicants per year, and remove long lines at POEA offices. The online seafarer registry shall likewise pave the way for the development and implementation of a universal identification system for Filipino seafarers.
He said the way forward is to have a universal ID system for seafarer that is acceptable to all government agencies and Port States in compliance with ILO Convention No. 185 or the Seafarer’s Identity Document Convention.
Secretary Bello signed GB Resolution No. 13, Series of 2016 along with POEA Administrator and Governing Board Vice-Chair Hans Leo J. Cacdac, and members Felix M. Oca, Estrelita S. Hizon, Alexander E. Asuncion, and Milagros Isabel A. Cristobal.
The Board directed the POEA to link up with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to look into the possibility of data sharing and development of a universal ID system for seafarers.
The POEA issues SRCs to seafarers with their perpetual ID number for easy access of personal records and efficient processing of employment documents.
Bello said the POEA shall conduct an extensive information dissemination campaign before the implementation of the online registration system. (DOLE)