Meet Jerome Ramientas, President of AIM Manila

AIM provides professional help and personal assistance to medically repatriated Filipino seafarers from their arrival at the airport until they are fit for work again on their vessels. We are proud of our employees and acknowledge their valuable roles in making our tasks possible. We would like to introduce to you the people behind AIM. First to introduce to you is the President of AIM Manila, Mr. Jerome Ramientas.

Can you briefly introduce yourself?

Hello! My name is Jerome Ramientas. I am 51 years old and I have been working at AIM Manila since October 2017. My current position at AIM Manila is Director/President.

What do you like most about your job at AIM Manila?

Finding an acceptable solution to a problem is what I like most in my job. But in particular with my present job, the kind of problems we are encountering and the solutions almost always involve a human element, because AIM Manila is dealing with sick seafarers who have different individual concerns, extending from their medical condition, status of employment, entitlements, and other related concerns.

Can you describe a working day?

A working day at AIM Manila is typically a busy, challenging, and heartwarming day, though also painstaking at times when the illness or condition of a particular seafarer is severe.

What did you do prior to AIM Manila(education, work)

I have completed two studies, namely:

• Bachelor of Arts in Economics (1988-1991)
• Bachelor of Laws (1991-1994)

At this moment, I am taking up a graduate study, Master in Ship Management (MSM), at one of the Philippine’s best maritime schools, the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA).

In terms of work experience, I have an extensive experience in the maritime field in various capacities. Since 1997, I worked in a local inter-island shipping company as Legal Officer, HR Manager and Insurance and Claims Manager. In 2004, I moved to a Philippine ferry company as Legal Officer. Then worked in 2005 as Executive Assistant and HR Head in two big land transportation companies. From 2007 until 2017, I was the Corporate Secretary, Director and President of a manning agency where I acquired extensive familiarity with the POEA Standard Employment Contracts, POEA Rules and Regulations, NLRC and NCMB rules of practice, and the different laws and regulations on seafarers affairs.

What do you do in your spare time?

In my spare time, which does not happen very often, I like to do outdoor activities such as cycling, jogging, tennis and most specially, snorkeling. I guess, this is born out of my busy work schedule that during my spare time, I have the urge to do some physical activities alone and in the quiet company of myself or my family.

 

In the many medical repatriation and recovery cases it has handled so far, AIM experienced cases where seafarers are utterly helpless in their recovery effort without outside help. This help ought to be provided by close family members but due to the circumstances of seafarers, most of the time they are alone in seeking medical treatment or rehabilitation. AIM has been tested in many ways and countless times provided extra service and effort to the crew resulting in their recovery or acceptance of condition. While it may be said that such extra service or effort comes with the job, for AIM, the motivation that seafarers handled by it must achieve recovery if not case-free, drives it to walk an extra-mile.

In one case for example, the seafarer received instructions from a doctor that his wound in the back must be constantly cleaned and changed dressing while at home. Since the seafarer was transiently boarding in AIM’s Guest House in between his medical check-up schedule, AIM had to assists him because the location of the wound made it unreachable for the seafarer to do it by himself.

A similar case is in which AIM helped a nervous crew who underwent pterygium excision to put eyedrops in his eyes while waiting for his flight home the next day.  Or assisting a seafarer who suffered from fracture of both feet, to get up  to go to the toilet or somewhere and to go back to his bed. In going to the hospital for his regular check-up, AIM staff had to carry him from his wheelchair to the service van and to the doctor’s clinic throughout his entire rehabilitation treatment in the hospital.

Other cases include aiding a crew member to obtain medical treatment for a non work-related illness, which he was objecting to, in a modest hospital whose billings were cared of under AIM. This had to be done by AIM because aside from being skeptical about the findings of the doctors, the seafarer was harboring ill-feeling against his employers for having felt neglected and abandoned by them. This considerably calmed the crew in such a manner that after the operation, he went straight home to his family in the province.

In the many ways that AIM extended help, though trivial, petty, which comes with the job, and maybe unnecessary, AIM believes that it resulted in the recovery of the majority of its repatriated seafarers or in helping them to accept the outcome of the treatment. For AIM, this is its best accomplishment.

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AIM guides Philippine seafarers when they return home from work due to an illness or accident and assists them in the rehabilitation process. However an illness can always appear, one can do several things to try and prevent illnesses and accidents from happening. Taking good care of health and well-being on the vessel is very important.

Healthy diet

One of the things that can be done is maintaining a healthy diet by offering varied food and making sure it is nutritious. Other important things are: adequate rest and sleep, regular exercise and keeping a good hygiene.

Good hygiene

Talking about good hygiene, one can think of many things that can be done. Some examples are: always washing hands before eating and after using the bathroom, brushing teeth daily, protecting the skin from weather influences, etc.

Following the safety instructions

Another important aspect in prevention is following the safety instructions of the vessel. Sometimes it is required to wear special gear for protection like a special suit or helmet or to use safety lines. These instructions are there for a reason and it is important that they are followed, For each and everyone’s safety.

And in case a seafarer does get ill of experiences an accident, AIM’s team will be there to take excellent care of the seafarer.

When the seafarer gets ill, the crewing agent is obliged to pay the seafarer sick wages. Even when the seafarer reported ill after returning to his home country. If the crewing agent does not pay, this can lead to claims. And of course, our goal is to prevent for unnecessary claims. AIM recently resolved a case like this. 

What was the case?

A Philippine seafarer was not feeling quite well during his work on board, however he did not mention this to the captain and he didn’t ask for consultation of a doctor.

Not fit for duty

When he returned to Manila, he consulted a doctor on his own initiative. The doctor concluded that the seafarer was sick and not fit for duty. Based on the rights described in the POEA, the seafarer is entitled to 120 days of sick wages payment. Unfortunately, the crew agent was not aware of this. And as a result the sick wages were not paid. The seafarer ran into financial problems because he was unable to pay for his medical bills, medicines and could no longer support his family. The seafarer was convinced that his illness was job related.

The absence of sick wages caused so much frustration at the seafarer, that he looked for legal assistance…a claim was made!

Sick wages

Eventually the misunderstanding was resolved and the sick wages were transferred to the seafarers bank account. With AIM’s help, all frustration that the seafarer had were resolved and good care was provided. In the end, no claim was submitted to the NLRC.

Conclusion

In conclusion of this case: payment of sick wages is very important and should also be continued after a contract period ends according to the POEA rules.