145 seafarers in EV benefit Seafarers Upgrading Program

TACLOBAN CITY—About 145 seafarers from the region have benefited the Seafarers Upgrading Program (SUP) of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in the region, an official of the agency said.

OWWA-8 Regional Director Norma del Rosario said the program was intended to provide OWWA seafarer-members job-related training in priority maritime courses indentified by the Maritime Training Council (MTC).

“It is designed to upgrade the knowledge, update the skills, and develop the expertise of Filipino seafarers in accordance with technological advancement and international maritime standards,” del Rosario said.

Under this program, beneficiaries will receive from OWWA-RWO8 financial assistance for training cost, ranging from a minimum of P1, 200 to a maximum of P7, 500. These amounts are inclusive of meal and transportation allowances in the case of trainees referred to the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP).

“Filipino seafarers who are active OWWA members may avail of this program in which beneficiaries may subsequently avail of the SUP after payment of additional three membership contribution and if training is availed of within the prescribed period,” del Rosario said.

SUP beneficiaries will be trained in courses relevant to identified skills needed in the international maritime market such as automatic radar plotting aids, advance training in fire fighting, auxiliary system, cargo handling and care of cargo, control engineering, crisis management, crowd management, deck watch keeping, electro-technology, engine room simulator, general operator’s courses for global maritime distress safety system, general tanker familiarization, maritime refrigeration and air-conditioning, and many more

SUP helps seafarers upgrade their skills in accordance with technological advancements and international maritime standards. It provides OWWA seafarer-members related training in priority maritime courses identified by the Maritime Training Council.

The SUP is open to all seafarers who are OWWA members in which beneficiaries under this program will receive financial assistance from OWWA. First availment consists of P 7,500 training assistance. Seafarers could avail another training course every after three recorded membership.

The duration of the training vary depending on the position of the trainee. The maximum duration of the training for higher positions is two months.

del Rosario said that 578 seafarers were assisted by the program in 2011.

Eastern Visayas has the largest number of seafarers in the country, representing around 40 percent of 172,000 active members registered with OWWA-8. (REYAN L. ARINTO)

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Posted by lsde on Sep 28 2012. Filed under News1. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.