Good news for seafarers! Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has granted discounts on fees of Certificates of Proficiency (COPs) and Certificates of Competency (COCs) starting today, May 16.
MARINA said earlier this year that they are mulling slashing the fees of these certifications “to mitigate the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the onslaught of recent calamities that devastated parts of the Visayas and Mindanao Regions.” The proposal was approved effective this Monday via Memorandum Circular SC-2022-02.
According to the Memorandum, regular processing for Issuance, Revalidation, or Replacement of COP will only be P130, which is formerly at P200. From P600, Expedited or Onboard application is now at P330.
For COC, regular Issuance, Revalidation, or Replacement will only cost P530 (from P1,000), while Expedited or Onboard processing is at P750 (from P1,500). Fees are inclusive of Documentary Tax.
The MARINA would also like to remind applicant seafarers of the following details:
a. Previously filed applications that are still being subjected to evaluation, may it be under Online or Final Evaluation status and other pending applications, that require resubmission of documents, once approved, shall be charged based on the existing (old) fees.
b. Seafarers who wanted to avail of the new fees are advised to cancel their existing applications and re-apply. This will however entail a slight delay as the application will pass through the same process.
Online Issuance of Certificates
Last February 15, MARINA also started the issuance online certificates for seafarers under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for seafarers 1978, as amended.
MARINA Administrator VADM Robert A Empedrad AFP (Ret) said that seafarers do not need to claim physically at the MARINA their STCW certificates anymore, particularly Certificates of Proficiency (COPs) and Certificates of Competency (COCs), as they will be sent to their respective MISMO Accounts. These certificates have QR codes and they could easily be verified online.
Pursuant to MARINA Advisory 2022-08, here are the additional guidelines on the application and issuance of STCW Certificates:
Effective 15 February 2022, approved applications for the issuance of STCW certificates will be released through MISMO accounts of seafarers after receipt of corresponding payment of fees.
These certificates can be printed on an A4 size bond paper. There is no need to affix the dry seal of the MARINA.
Each COP or COC issuance shall be designated with a unique QR Code. Verification as to their authenticity may be done through the MARINA verification portal. Verifiers only need to input the serial number of the said certificate.
Guidelines for the verification of the authenticity of STCWO issued certificates are spelled out in MARINA Advisory No. 2021-65.
Meanwhile, effective 01 April 2022, personal appearance for regular application for the issuance of COPs and COCs is not required anymore, except on instances where submitted documents need to be clarified and the processing of Expedite Applications.
STCWO Executive Director VADM Rene V Medina AFP (Ret) said that these developments are MARINA’s little gesture of allowing our seafarers have more time to spend their short vacation ashore with their loved ones. (via MARINA FB)
