OWWA ASSISTANCE TO RETURNING SEAFARERS - OWWA To Pay Hotel & Food During The Seafarers’ Stay in a Hotel For Isolation While Waiting for their RT-PCR Swab Test Results

UPDATE AS OF 1 FEBRUARY 2021

To avoid confusion, it has been discussed that LMAs are now held responsible for providing transportation to their arriving seafarers regardless of where they came from either Red Flagged country or not. 

OWWA buses are for land based OFWs. 

The only thing OWWA will provide is the hotel if and only LMA made a request a day or ahead before the expected date of arrival otherwise, non owwa hotel requesting LMA should provide hotel for their crew.

Same process na po ulit tayo sa mga seafarers. 

- Acknowledgement from OWWA Team Hotel is needed.

- Manning Agency (LMA) must arrange transportation from airport to hotel.

- Copy of OWWA Hotel Acknowledgement from Team Hotel must be provided to crew.

This is starting February 1

International Arrival Process for OFWs at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) - effective February 1, 2021

Procedures:

- Upon Seafarers' Airport Arrival 

Pass thru MARINA Desk and FirstAide for Database registration & checking - NO SWABBING will be conducted. If there is Acknowledgement Receipt from OWWA Team Hotel, OWWA will provide/assign hotel accomodation. If no Acknowledgement from OWWA, manning agency (LMA) will be the one to provide hotel.

HERE IS THE SAMPLE OWWA HOTEL TEAM ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

FROM: owwasbhotel@gmail.com 

This is to acknowledge receipt of your email.

Please be advised to send this email confirmation to your crew and proceed to Marina and OWWA Counter at the NAIA for further instruction. Show this acknowledgement to the OWWA Officer assigned at NAIA for Hotel accommodation . OWWA will shoulder their hotel accommodation
with complete meals until the swab test  result is confirmed and also submit this confirmation with attached photo copy of Seaman book & Passport with proof of date of arrival to the hotel for billing purposes. May we also request to remind your representative who will fetch your crew at the airport to be there before the arrival of flight to avoid delay. transportation and other incidental expenses incurred by your seafarers will be shouldered by your good office.

Please also take note that your crew is your responsibility, and that they should go straight to the hotel after the swab testing and stay there until the result of the swab testing received.

NOTE: PLEASE MAKE IT SURE TO ADVISE YOUR CREW TO SUBMIT THIS CONFIRMATION TO THE HOTEL WHERE YOUR CREW WILL BE BILLETED FOR BILLING PURPOSES.


Thank you,
Quenie T.

FOR:

DIR. RONALD A. MINA

Vice Chairman. Team Hotel

- Transportation from Airport to hotel will be arranged by Manning agency (LMA) even if the crew came from Red Flagged country not.

- Manning  Agnecy (LMA) must pick up their crew at the airport going to designated hotel.

After 5 days, swabbing (RT-PCR) test will be conducted at the hotel.

If result is negative, the crew can continue the 14-days quarantine at their residence or LGU.

- Seafarers arrival at the Airport will be counted as day Zero Day.

RELATED INFORMATION:

CLICK: Firstaide Diagnostics Swabbing at NAIA & Philippine Ports - FIRST AIDE RT-PCR SWABBING OPERATION for ARRIVING OFWs & Seafarers

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OWWA is extending assistance to returning seafarers by shouldering the cost of hotel and food during the seafarers’ stay in a hotel for isolation while waiting for their RT-PCR swab test results.

To avail of OWWA’s assistance, Licensed Manning Agency (LMA) is required to submit a letter communication to OWWA requesting for hotel assistance for their repatriating/returning seafarers. This communication must be sent to OWWA at least 5-6 days prior the date of arrival of the returning seafarers to Manila. LMA must provide the following information (minimum):

 

•        Complete name of returning seafarer/s

•        Rank of the seafarer/s

•        Name of vessel where he disembarked

•        Date of arrival at NAIA or other airports, or at the Port of Manila (if vessel is deviated to Manila for crew change)

•        Flight details (name of airline, estimated time of arrival, airport of origin)

•        Or, if disembarking at the Port of Manila, date of arrival of the ship

 

LMA’s letter / communication to be sent via email to:

 

owwasbhotel@gmail.com

Attention: Dir. Ronald Mina

Vice Chair- OWWA Team Hotel

 

After sending the letter/communication to OWWA, please wait for OWWA’s reply.  If there is no reply after twenty-four (24) hours, please follow-up.

 

OWWA is expected to reply as follows:

•             OWWA’s confirmation if they will book for the said seafarers or if LMA will be assigned to book at any of OWWA partner hotels (List of OWWA Partner Hotels as of 17 July 2020, see below);

•             If LMA will be assigned to book, LMA must refer back to OWWA for their confirmation of their booking and should inform hotel of OWWA's approval, possibly, thru an email.

 

Important Note:

•             LMA must arrange the transport of the returning seafarers from the airport or seaport (Manila) to the hotels where they are booked for isolation while waiting for the RT-PCR swab test results.

•             If there are changes in schedule, LMA should inform OWWA accordingly

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SAMPLE LETTER TO OWWA:

//Print in your official Company Letterhead//

13 August 2020

Dir. Ronald A. Miña

Vice Chair, Hotel Team  

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)

Pasay City

Dear Sir, 

We write with reference to the following crew who will arrive on 21 August 2020  at NAIA, details are as follows:

            

AA.) Complete Name of Arriving Seaman & Rank:

BB.) Flight Schedule

VIA PHILIPPINE AIRLINES (PR)

FLT#     DATE     ROUTE     ETD / ETA         

PR 427   21AUG    NRT/MNL   1310  1700    

CC.) Name of Vessel – MV ______________

In view of the above, we would like to request for OWWA’s assistance for the arrangement of hotel and food for the above mentioned crew as well as payment of related costs.

We have assigned our below company personnel as contact person for this arrangement:

Name: 

Mobile No.: 

e-mail: 

Thank you very much for your support and assistance to our Filipino seafarers.

Very truly yours,

_____________

SAMPLE Reply/Confirmation from OWWA

This is to acknowledge receipt of your email. Please advise your crew to go straight to OWWA counter at the NAIA for their hotel accommodation. OWWA will shoulder their hotel accommodation with  complete meals until the swab test result is confirmed. Transportation and other incidental expenses incurred by your seafarers  will be shouldered by your good office.

Thank you,
Imelda Cabansag  

for:

Dir. Ronald A. Miña

Vice Chair, Team Hotel

_______________

FOR CREW CHANGE AT MANILA BAY

1. Send the letter and do the above usual procedure.

2. After sending the Official Letter to OWWA, follow-up with OWWA Office via their landline. Check their trunkline numbers at OWWA official website: https://www.owwa.gov.ph/index.php/contact-us

3. Ask to be connected to office of Ms. Imelda Cabansag  

4. Inform them of your request for hotel for your seafarers disembarking at Manila Bay.

5. The OWWA Hotel team will then look for available hotels then will advise you. In our case, they gave us MANILA HOTEL

SAMPLE REPLY WE RECEIVED FROM OWWA:

On 08/20/2020 9:04 pm, hotel owwa wrote:

This is to acknowledge the receipt of your email. Please make an advance arrangement with Manila hotel and we will confirm to the hotel thru phone call or email on the actual arrival date.

OWWA will be the one to shoulder the hotel accommodation with complete meals   until the swab test  result will be released. Other incidental expenses will be shouldered by your good office. 

Thank you

Imelda Cabansag

for:

Dir. Ronald A. Miña

Vice Chair, Team Hotel 

5. Upon receiving advise regarding assigned hotel - contact the hotel and also send them the OWWA confirmation for their reference.

IF YOU DON'T RECEIVE ANY REPLY BY E-MAIL - YOU CAN CALL OWWA OFFICE AT 

   (02) - 8891-7601 TO 24

Request the operator to connect you to the office of Ms. Imelda Cabansag

or  direct line OWWA Team Hotel (office of Mr. Danny Flores)

   8551 66 41 

 

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List of OWWA Partner Hotels as of 17 July 2020

Download List Here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BggQag6MALQbeoF791hT6CQ8kfgClz7b/view?usp=sharing

SOURCE: FILIPINO ASSOCIATION FOR MARINERS' EMPLOYMENT, INC. (FAME) - Memo-Circular No. 084-20  / August 10, 2020

The Secretariat 

Filipino Association for Mariners' Employment Inc. (FAME)
12/F, MARC 2000 Tower, 1973 Taft Ave., corner San Andres St., Malate Manila, 1004 Philippines
Tel No: 8524-7337 / 8524-9892
Fax No: 8527-9794
Email Ad: fame@fame.org.ph
Website: www.fame.org.ph

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NOTE: The purpose of this post is for immediate information only when conducting crew change or replacement of Filipino crew / seaman. This is also for guidance of crewing officers, crewing manager & crew operation staff, especially for ship manning agent in the Philippines. Above information is based on collected data only.