The Lydia Mar Manila Communications team recently accompanied one of our crew members to check out the recently opened OWWA Seafarers’ Welfare Center located at Monarch Parksuites, Parañaque City. As a crewing agency, we know it’s important for our seafarers and their family members to know what perks and services are available to them.
So if you’re a seafarer planning to visit the OWWA Seafarers’ Welfare Center, here’s an honest look at what to expect:
Government Agency Booths: Inquiry-Only
The Center aims to be a one-stop shop, but the government kiosks are only there to answer inquiries and are unable to process their full range of services. We spotted booths for OWWA, SSS, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, Landbank, DMW, TESDA, Public Attorney’s Office, and the National Maritime Polytechnic.
What you can do: Ask questions, make inquiries
What you can’t do: Process transactions like availing of OWWA Livelihood assistance, Pag-Ibig loans, withdrawing your SSS funds etc.
Limited Schedules: Personnel are not present in all the booths. There’s a rotational schedule. We took a photo of it for you.
Unstaffed Booths: The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and the Department of Migrants Workers (DMW) booths were not yet operational as they await representatives to be stationed at the Welfare Center. But this was early in June! They might be staffed now.
Where to go instead: Refer to the links below for the official websites of the government agencies. There’s info their on their office locations and how to contact them to avail of their full range of services
- Department of Migrant Workers
- SSS
- PAG-IBIG
- PHILHEALTH
- TESDA
- NATIONAL MARITIME POLYTECHNIC
- Download the eGOV app to access govt services
And for Legal Aid Services, here are a few options:
- Public Attorney’s Office (Manila District)
- UP Office of Legal Aid
- Lyceum Office of Legal Aid
- IBP National Center for Legal Aid
PhilHealth Yakap Clinic & Sexual Healthcare
Free Checkups & Medicine: Run by VidaCure, you can assign this clinic as your primary provider via the eGov app to access free consultations and medicines.
No Onsite Labs: The clinic does not have laboratory facilities. For lab tests, you will be referred to VidaCure’s branches in Gateway Mall, Quezon City and Festival Mall, Muntinlupa City. The tests will still be free.
Important Tip: If you don’t live near the Seafarers Welfare Center, choose a different Philhealth Yakap clinic closer to home or places you frequent. Your options are in the Philhealth Portal of the the egov app.
HIV Awareness: The Love Yourself organization is also onsite, offering awareness resources for HIV and sexual health.
The Best Part: Free Lounge Access to Relax and Unwind
If you just need a comfortable and quiet space to relax, whether it’s with your crewmates or immediate family, the Welfare Center is an ideal venue. The seats are comfy, and the interiors are warm and welcoming.
Free Refreshments: Enjoy complimentary snacks. During our visit, they were serving lugaw, palitaw, pastries, various tusok-tusok options, coffee, and juice.
Free Amenities: Free Wi-Fi and charging stations
Entertainment: They have a dedicated Karaoke room (bookable for 30-minute slots) and board games like Chess, Jenga, and Scrabble.
Training Room: Look out for free seafarer training sessions courtesy of OWWA. Content creator BiyaheNiEdward made a post about it here
A Note on Location & Accessibility
The Seafarers’ Welfare Center is located at Monarch Parksuites, Bradco Avenue, Aseana Business Park, Parañaque City. It’s a 10-minute walk from the DFA or the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Take note that there are no jeeps, trikes, or buses that pass right in front of Center’s building.
It’s also a bit isolated from traditional hang-out spots of seafarers in Manila. When we visited at 10:00 AM on a Wednesday, there were only about five other people inside.
The Verdict: Worth a visit, but don’t make it a special trip for government services
The Seafarers’ Welfare Center is still working towards its goal of becoming a one-stop shop for seafarers and their families. The inquiry-only setup and unstaffed booths can be disappointing for a seafarer who went all the way to the Welfare Center from outside Metro Manila like Cavite or Bulacan.
Right now, the place is more useful as a comfy spot to lounge around, relax, and even study. If you have a long wait at the DFA, are killing time near SM MOA, or want a clean, quiet space with free coffee and Wi-Fi, the Welfare Center is a very nice facility to check out.
Although there’s room for improvement, we appreciate OWWA’s investment in creating this Center for seafarers and their loved ones. We also have to give five stars to the OWWA staff onsite. They were welcoming, polite, and sincerely honest about the Center’s current limitations.
Have you visited the Seafarers Welfare Center yet? What do you think about it?
If you have questions about your benefits or what you’re entitled to between contracts, reach out to us — that’s what we’re here for as a crewing agent.