Under First Time Jobseekers MC-No.-SC-2019-02, first-time job seekers can now process their COP of BT and SDSD for FREE.
This is in accordance with Republic Act No. 11261 or the “First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act”
Basic Training (BT) and Seafarers with Designated Security Duties (SDSD) are two of the most vital documents of every seafarer.
However, these papers are worthless without a Certificate of Proficiency or COP.
Who Are The First Time Job Seekers?
To qualify as a first-time job seeker and avail of FREE COP of BT and SDSD, an applicant must fall under any of these categories.
- First-time job seekers should be Filipino citizen who is actively seeking employment locally or abroad for the first time.
- Graduate of Associate or Bachelor’s Degree.
- Completed a technical-vocational course.
- High school graduate who has completed the K-12 program.
- Out-of-school youths.
- Those who are never been employed nor engaged in education or training.
- Students taking a leave of absence.
- Any person intending to work while enrolled in any school, college, university, or learning institution.
To solidify the merit that you are a first-time job seeker, MARINA needs you to submit a Barangay Certification. Additionally, an Oath of Undertaking is also required.
How to Get Your Free COP
Application for free COP of BT and SSAT-SDSD is made through MISMO. Thus, the applicant must create a MISMO account and complete all the necessary documents required.
If you want to see an easy example of how to process your COP, click on that link.
You will witness a more detailed article on my experience processing my certificates through Marina’s online platform.
1. Complete the Requirements
You must submit these documents online just like processing your regular MISMO COP.
For COP BT
- Basic Training full course
- SIRB or any valid government identification document
- Medical fitness certificate from accredited medical facilities
- Barangay Certification (Original)
- Oath of Undertaking (Photocopy)
- Colored 2×2 inches picture in a white polo with collar, white background and taken within the last six (6) months, NO SHOULDER BOARD and no name tag
For COP SSAT-SDSD
- SSAT-SDSD Training
- SIRB or any valid government identification document
- Medical fitness certificate from accredited medical facilities
- Barangay Certification (Original)
- Oath of Undertaking (Photocopy)
- Colored 2×2 inches picture in a white polo with collar, white background and taken within the last six (6) months, NO SHOULDER BOARD and no name tag
A Barangay Certification is a document issued by a barangay certifying that the person named therein is a first-time applicant for certifications.
It also proves he has been a resident of the issuing barangay for at least six (6) months as of the issuance date of the said document.
An Oath of Undertaking is a document duly accomplished by the first time jobseeker to abide and be bound by the conditions imposed upon him/ her and executed before the Punong Barangay or the latter’s authorized officer.
Once you have the documentary requirements above, you can now proceed to the next step.
2. Log in to MISMO.
Create a MISMO account and log in to it. Go to Select Transactions. Choose Certification, Regular, and ✔tick ISSUANCE.
Under the Select Class option, click on COP. There should appear a Select Function below with drop downs of training.
Scroll down until you find the “Basic Training for First Time Job Seekers Under 12611” or “SSAT-SDSD for First Time Job Seekers Under 12611”.
3. Upload the Requirements.
Upload the required document. An online evaluator will check if the documents you submitted are correct. In addition, you will also receive an SMS regarding the status of your certification.
4. Final Evaluation.
Remember that there are no more appearances when processing your COP in MISMO so there’s no need to visit any MARINA office or branches.
Once you submit your documents, MARINA will evaluate them and determine if they meet their requirements.
The evaluator will also verify all your documents for authenticity.
5. Online Releasing.
Note that we just skipped the payment section!
So after MARINA approves your documents, you will receive an SMS telling you that. You will also receive a message that your COP is now available in your MISMO Account.
Next is to log in to your dashboard and check if the COP is there. You can print it and sign it before handing it over to your manning agency.
With MARINA’s FREE COP for BT and SDSD, first-time job seekers can save Php180.00 each or Php360.00 for both certificates.
The “First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act”
But it doesn’t only end there. RA 11261 or the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act has more benefits.
It mandates government agencies and instrumentalities to waive fees and charges to first-time job seekers obtaining the following documents:
- (a) Police clearance certificate;
- (b) National Bureau of Investigation clearance;
- (c) Barangay clearance;
- (d) Medical certificate from a public hospital, provided that fees and charges collected for laboratory tests and other medical procedures required for the grant of a medical certificate shall not be free of charge;
- (e) Birth Certificate;
- (f) Marriage Certificate;
- (g) Transcript of academic records issued by state colleges and universities;
- (h) Tax Identification Number (TIN);
- (i) Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) card; and
- (j) Other documentary requirements issued by the government that may be required by employers from job applicants.
May the winds be in your favor.
A family man, he loves writing, reading, investing, and watching the golden hours while sailing.
