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November 12, 2014NLRC EN BANC RESOLUTION NO. 008-14WHEREAS, the Second Paragraph of Section 20 (B) (3) of the POEA Standard Employment Contract Governing the Employment of Filipino Seafarers on Board Ocean Going Vessels (POEA-SEC), relative to disability claims of seafarers, provides that —"If a doctor appointed by the seafarer disagrees with the assessment, a third doctor may be agreed jointly between the Employer and the seafarer. The third doctor's decision shall be final and binding on both parties."WHEREAS, it has been observed that employers and seafarers do not avail of this option to finally determine the entitlement of seafarers to disability benefits.WHEREFORE, RESOLVED AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, The Commission, in line with its mission to resolve labor disputes involving Seafarers in the fairest, quickest, least expensive and most effective way possible, directs all Labor Arbiters, during mandatory conference, to give the parties a period of fifteen (15) days within which to secure the services of a third doctor and an additional period of thirty (30) days for the third doctor to submit his/her reassessment.Signed...