Whereas, the Rules and Regulations Implementing the Restructuring of Travel Tax Exemptions jointly developed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration/Department of Labor (POEA-DOLE), Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Finance (DOF) in 1989, provides for the issuance of the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) to all duly processed seafarers which serves as an exit pass and a tax exemption certificate;

Whereas, POEA Memorandum Circular No. 76, Series of 1989 provides for the efficient release and monitoring of OEC for seafarers with a validity period of thirty (30) days for officers and forty-five (45) days for ratings;

Whereas, manning agencies have expressed the inconvenience brought by the limited OEC validity in relation to visa issuance to seafarers;

Whereas, there is a need for a reasonable validity period that will not tie up the seafarer to a single manning agency for a long period without just compensation;

NOW THEREFORE, the POEA Governing Board in a meeting duly convened, hereby resolves that OEC validity for seafarers, whether officers and ratings be extended to sixty (60) days.

Adopted: 4 Mar. 1993

(Sgd.) NIEVES R. CONFESOR	(Sgd.) FELICIANO O. JOSON
Secretary	Administrator