SIRB 2017

After numerous delays ., I am now finally able to go to the task of renewing my Seaman book. Took me a while but definitely I had reached it.

makeshift desk of marina booth in POEA

Normally I would settled to go MARINA office to have my SIRB renewed , but government services there are not really that good for numerous reason. One of these is the fact that they don’t accept personal appearance and I had to login on their website to schedule an appointment - problem is that the appointment schedule they give is at least two weeks away to more than a month which is not good that I had to wait for a couple weeks just to renew and would take another couple of weeks more to process and release an SIRB. Overall it takes at least a month of waiting - very inefficient. Another thing that was worst in marina is that they are overcharging seafarers in "speeding UP" processing which they call "expedite" ., Despite paying more money to them (which cost is doubled, 1500 PHP) ., they will still release SIRB on the same processing days as normal time. Imagine paying more on something that is just basically the same. Talk about scamming seafarers

So due to these hindrances I had to settle for option number 02 , renew my SIRB in POEA.

Several years back ., there really was once a "MARINA" booth in POEA building ., that lets seafarers renew their SIRB in haste. But these kind of services was discontinued for a couple of years then now again it is reopened ., I was still a witness back then that services in renewal was superb back when it was still opened

Anyway now that "Marina" booth in POEA is opened once again after nearly a decade of haitus ., I didn’t let the opportunity slip by in renewing my SIRB ., especially now that MARINA service in Kalaw street area are pathetic and poor. Honestly It was a good decision for me to renew my SIRB papers there in POEA and that I finished the whole agenda in renewing SIRB in less than 30 minutes ., probably even perhaps less than 15 minutes if it weren't for the damn photocopy machine nearby didn’t broke down. It will only take them a day to finish my SIRB processing (compared to the main marina office which will take weeks) and I'd be getting it on the following day.

So far since the marina booth in POEA is still a few months being opened ., their facilities there is still somewhat in makeshift. Which I can understand - given that there's no exact guarantee if the MARINA booth will be in permanent stay there or just for the time being until a new Philippine President comes by (or new administration) and decides later that they will discontinue such services

Traffic in EDSA is a pain as usual

to kill time while waiting ., i had packed snacks and of course my very own nintendo switch ., however since the service was fast , i didnt  need this and just went to the local mall nearby to pass time

    

LITTLE BY LITTLE

Getting an NBI law enforcement clearance could be a bit more complicated because of internet connection

Little by little ., I had begun the work of returning back again in working to a ship and had been doing steps on renewing my working papers ., My first step will be getting the NBI law enforcement clearance certificate.

Its been almost a year since I got one and getting an NBI certificated has changed little since I last got one. First off getting an NBI is still via online appointment and applicants have to pay the fee via local payment centers. Good thing making an appointment is not that hard for NBI - well at least compared to 'other' government offices.

My user name in NBI is still active and I just simply updated my profile data ., then put on the option "Visa Seaman" ., then choose a schedule on which date on an appointment and that's how easy it is . I choose the appointment in getting an NBI the other day and paying it the day before my appointment

Earlier I had problems., First was that when I choose the payment center to be "7-11" ., it did not occur to me that 7-11 store in the Philippines had always have a problems with online payments . Thankfully a good Samaritan told me at a payment center that I should book another appointment and this time make the payment go directly to "BAYAD CENTER". It was a good info and "BAYAD CENTER" never let me done when it comes to transaction payments.

Now that payment for NBI Clearance was arranged ., yet again it was stalled for another two days because of some internet connectivity issues (again). This time the problem is the connection of the data base from the NBI branch. Well no matter what the problem is its understandable given that internet connection on the Philippines is one of the slowest in the planet (seriously).

Now that my NBI Clearance has been acquired., I can now proceed to the next phase - Renewing a Seaman's book