The Office of the Undersecretary  for Migrant Workers ™ Affairs (OUMWA)  of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in a communication  sent to the POEA dated 29 May 2017 is of the opinion that deployment  bans, as a general rule, only covers landbased workers, for the reason that the Crisis Alert Level system, which is the basis for the issuance of the corresponding  deployment status, has landbased workers in mind.

As can be deduced from the œcrisis alert level indicators  (e.g. valid signs of internal   disturbance;   violent  disturbances   of  external   aggression;   full-blown attack), the scenario envisioned therein is of long-term residency-lengthy  enough for them to experience the direct impact of the violence or catastrophe involved.

Notwithstanding   existing   POEA  high-risk,   war-risk   and  war-like   policies covering overseas seafarers, all shipping companies, licensed manning agencies and seafarers are hereby further advised that the policy of no embarkation, no disembarkation, no crew change and no shore leave are in effect for all Filipino seafarers employed on ships calling ports affected by Crisis Alert Levels.

For the information and guidance of all concerned.