Section 87Sec./Art. 87

Establishment of Seafarer Welfare Centers. - The OWWA shall establish seafarer welfare facilities or centers in major crew-change ports, specifically in Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Iloilo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City, and other areas to be determined by the OWWA which have a higher concentration of seafarers. The facility or center shall offer services which promote the welfare of, and cater to the recreational, cultural, religious, communication, and legal needs of all seafarers, regardless of whether they are actively engaged, employed, or not working due to the expiration of contract, are transitioning in between contracts, or awaiting recall for deployment.

The PAO shall, in coordination with the OWWA, appoint at least one (1) public attorney who shall be posted in seafarer welfare centers and shall render free-of-charge legal assistance and counseling to seafarers or their families in criminal, civil, labor, administrative, and other quasi-judicial cases.

The OWWA shall, in consultation with relevant government agencies and stakeholders, annually review and develop the welfare facilities and services to ensure that they are appropriate in light of changes in the needs of seafarers resulting from technical, operational, and other developments in the shipping industry.

The TESDA and the NMP shall offer non-degree courses and programs on maritime education and training, especially to seafarers who are at the welfare centers and are not otherwise actively engaged as such, or are in transition in between contracts, or are awaiting deployment, to ensure that they keep abreast with technical and operational changes and other developments in the maritime industry.

One-Stop Shop Centers for Seafarers shall also be established in these welfare centers for the convenience of the seafarers and to maximize the service being offered to them.