Duties of a Seafarer.
SEC. 26. Duties of a Seafarer. - Seafarers shall have the duty to:
(a) Faithfully comply with and observe the terms and conditions of one's employment contract;
(b) Abide by lawful and reasonable company personnel policies and procedures and the Code of Ethics for seafarers;
(c) Follow and observe the chain of command on board the ship or while ashore, without prejudice to one's religious freedom;
(d) Be diligent in performing one's duties relating to the ship, its stores, equipment, and cargo, whether on board, in transit, or ashore;
(e) Continually improve one's professional competency by keeping up-to-date with the latest technological and scientific developments applied in various maritime fields, keen observation of shipboard activities, continuous education, and training;
(f) Conduct oneself in an orderly and respectful manner towards shipmates, passengers, shippers, stevedores, port authorities, ad other persons who have official business with the ship at all times;
(g) Conduct oneself in accordance with moral, ethical and social norms;
(h) Be responsible for one's health while on board by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, complying with prescribed medical policies, and taking appropriate medications when necessary; and
(i) Perform one's duties in a responsible and sustainable manner, should one engage in various economic activities related to oceans, seas and coasts.
Minimum Age.
SEC. 27. Minimum Age. - Except for cadets, the minimum age required for employment or engagement to work on board Philippine-registered ships operating domestically or internationally and on board foreign-registered ships shall be eighteen (18) years old.
Pre-Employment Medical Examinations (PEME).
SEC. 28. Pre-Employment Medical Examinations (PEME). - All PEME of overseas seafarers shall be performed only in DOH-accredited medical facilities following the standards set by the DOH.
It is the duty of an overseas seafarers undergoing PEME to truthfully answer all questions to one's complete medical history: Provided, That the processing of the medical information collected shall be subject to compliance with Republic Act No. 10173.
Medical Certificate.
SEC. 29. Medical Certificate. - As a prerequisite for employment on board an ocean-going ship, all overseas seafarers shall be required to secure a medical certificate issued by a DOH-accredited medical facility after undergoing a PEME. The same requirement shall be complied with by domestic seafarers in accordance with the rules and regulations of the DOH. The certificate is a confirmation that the seafarer has met the minimum health requirements for performing duties specific to the post and is physically and mentally fit to work.
For purpose of this section, a medical certificate issued to overseas seafarers in accordance with the requirements of the STCW Convention shall be acceptable.
Training and Qualifications.
SEC. 30. Training and Qualifications. - Only overseas seafarers certified by appropriate govenrment agencies in accordance with the STCW Convention and other applicable international standards, and who are equally qualified as domestic seafarers, shall be allowed to work and be employed on board a ship operating internationally.
The MARINA shall issue the appropriate standards and guidelines for qualification, training, and certification of domestic seafarers pursuant to applicable Philippine laws, taking into account conditions of the domestic shipping industry and after due consultation with maritime domestic stakeholders: Provided, That qualified overseas seafarers are deemed qualified as domestic seafarers.
