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.
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| 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
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| Traffic in EDSA is a pain as usual |
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| 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 |
