The Department of Transportation – Maritime Sector activates its 12th One-Stop-Shop (OSS) for Seafarers – Crew Change Hub in the country at the Port of Cagayan de Oro on 30 May 2022 led by the PPA Port Management Office of Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro.
The Assistant Secretary for Maritime, Vice Admiral Narciso A. Vingson, Jr. together with his associates joined the OSS Team for Cagayan de Oro spearheaded by Port Manager Isidro V. Butaslac, Jr. during the walkthrough and activation of the said Crew Change Hub. Among the participating agencies were the LGU of Cagayan de Oro, Office of Civil Defense – Region X (OCD10), Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Bureau of Immigration (BI), Department of Tourism (DOT), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Coast Guard District Northern Mindanao (CGDNM), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), National Economic Development Authority – Region X (NEDA-X), Philippine National Police Maritime Police (RMU10), Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO), Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC), and the Department of Health – Northern Mindanao (DOH).
Overview of the OSS Crew Change Hub
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 80,000 Filipino seafarers were stranded at sea. Most of them were on board the vessels with expired contracts and experienced mental and physical illnesses. As a response to this predicament and as a commitment to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Department of Transportation – Maritime Sector initiated the establishment of One Stop Shop Crew Change Hubs in the country.
Crew Change Hubs aim to provide easy, safe, and uniform conduct of arrivals to the country’s gateways and facilitate the disembarking and embarking of Filipino seafarers. Upon arrival, the disembarking seafarers (referred to as offsigners) will be subject to public health protocols and will be transported to a designated quarantine facility while they wait for the result of their COVID tests. Quarantine monitoring and protocols are facilitated by the BOQ, BI, and OWWA, while security and transportation will be provided by the CGDNM (from vessel to port area), RMU10 (from port to quarantine facility), and COCPO (quarantine facility).
Courtesy Call at CDO Mayor’s Office
Upon their arrival, DOTr Asec Vingson and his associates together with the OSS Team for Cagayan de Oro made a courtesy call to Hon. Oscar Moreno’s office on 30 May 2022. During their meeting, the importance of vaccination and the current COVID situation of the city was highlighted as this will be a major aspect in the establishment of the OSS Crew Change Hub. Mayor Moreno expressed his gratitude towards the OSS Team for their hard work and success in the preparation for the activation of the Crew Change Hub and is looking forward to the upcoming conduct of international crew changes in the city.
Preparation for OSS Activation
Prior to its activation, PMO MO/C organized a series of meetings with the partner agencies to formulate the Crew Change Hub Protocols which consist of quarantine, transportation, and security procedures. A city resolution was also issued by the City Council of Cagayan de Oro City expressing conformity to the establishment of the OSS Crew Change Hub.
by Bo C. Acedera