New seafarers center to ease gov’t access, promote welfare

MANILA, February 16 ------ Filipino seafarers and their families can now easily access key government services in one location following the opening of a dedicated Seafarers’ Welfare Center.

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Patricia Yvonne Caunan on Friday inaugurated the welfare center at Aseana Business Park in Parañaque City. Caunan said the center is designed to provide a safe and orderly service for Filipino seafarers and their families, as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. “Ang pagtatatag ng sentrong ito ay alinsunod sa Magna Carta for Seafarers, na nag-aatas sa OWWA na magtatag ng mga welfare facility sa mga pangunahing crew-change ports sa bansa upang magsilbing sentro ng serbisyo para sa kapakanan at iba’t ibang pangangailangan ng mga seafarers, maging sila man ay aktibong nakasakay, nasa pagitan ng kontrata o naghihintay ng panibagong deployment,” she said.

Cacdac said the center will remove bureaucratic bottlenecks by consolidating frontline agencies, allowing seafarers to process documentations and other welfare concerns more efficiently. Among the services available are those from the Social Security System, Home Development Mutual (Pag-IBIG) Fund and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, as well as legal assistance from the Public Attorney's Office.

The center also offers free medical consultation and medicines, training facilities for skills upgrading, and a Love Yourself Booth that promotes sexual health and human immunodeficiency virus awareness. A Pink Area is specially dedicated for women seafarers and their families, Migrants’ Brew offers free coffee and snacks, and a recreation area is for rest and mental wellness.

Source: pna.gov.ph