CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 1708 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR FRANKLIN M. DRILON 
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SEP 18 AS :29 
Filipino se~farer remittances have taken on a prominent role in our country's 
economic well-being in recent years. Remittances from sea-based workers keep our 
economy afloat by fueling domestic consumption, preventing foreign exchange 
instability, and serving as a buffer against drastic devaluations of the peso currency 
which could lead to inflation. For the first quarter of the current year alone, Filipino 
seafarers were able to send home approximately One Billion and Two Million Dollars 
($1.2 B). 
At present, our seafarers face a new obstacle to their continued service aboard 
international vessels. The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) recently 
threatened to impose an employment ban against Filipino seafarers, claiming that the 
Philippines has yet to fully comply with its obligations under the 2010 Manila 
Amendments to the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, 
Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention). The STCW 
Convention sets the global standard on the education, training and competency 
certification of seafarers engaged in international shipping. 
The bill seeks to avert the imposition of such ban by introducing major structural 
changes to our maritime regulatory syskm that will address the bureaucratic 
inefficiencies in the current scheme and will, thus, ensure our country's complete 
compliance with the Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention. Pursuant to this 
objective, the bill aims to designate the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) as the 
sole maritime administrative agency, empowered to enact uniform rules and regulations 
governing the global maritime professionals, and to regularly monitor our conformity 
with the STCW Convention and the amendments thereto. 
Foregoing considered, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 


CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 170a 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR'FRANKLIN M. DRILON 
's~t1nh' 
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'13 
SEP 18 A8:29 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE MARITIME INDUSTRY AUTHORITY (MARINA) 
AS THE SINGLE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 
ENFORCEMENT 
OF 
INTERNATIONAL 
AGREEMENTS/ 
COVENANTS 
GOVERNING MARITIME GLOBAL PROFESSIONALS" AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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Section 1. Declaration of Policy, Consistent with the Constitutional principle that the 
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Philippines adopts the generally accepted principle of international law as part of the 
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law of the land, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to comply with the 1978 
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International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for 
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Seafarers (STCW Convention), as amended. Towards this end, the State shall create a 
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maritime administration that would provide an enabling environment, establish 
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appropriate institutional arrangements, and set up effective regulatory framework 
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conducive to efficiency, accountability, transparency and competitiveness consistent 
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with STCW Convention. Like'Yise, the State shall harmonize all legal ,and "dministratiye 
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measures which are taken and provided by other government regulatory agencies and 
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ensure that these are appropriate and consistent with STCW Convention. 
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Section 2. Definition of Terms. Unless otherwise provided in this Act, the following terms 
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shall mean-
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1. Maritime global professionals shall refer to the human complement in the seaborne 
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trade, specifically the seafarers both in domestic and international vessels. 
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2. Certificate of Competency shall refer to a certificate issued to masters, officers and 
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Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Radio Operators in 
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accordance with the provisions of Chapters II, III, IV or VII of the Annex to the 
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STCW Convention, as amended, qualifying the lawful holder thereof to serve 
and perform the functions involved at the level of responsibility specified therein; 
3. Certificate of Endorsement shall refer to the attestation of the Maritime 
Administration on the authenticity and validity of the certificates and shall be 
incorporated in the format of the certificates issued to masters and officers, 
stating that the issuance of the relevant certificate is in compliance with the 
requirements of the STCW Convention; 
4. Certificate of Proficiency shall refer to a certificate, other than a certificate of 
competency, issued to. a seafarer, stating that the relevant requirements of 
training competencies or seagoing services in the STCW Convention have been 
met; 
5. Certificate of Documentary Evidence shall refer to the documentation, other than a 
certificate of competence or ~ertificate of proficiency, used to establish that the 
relevant requirements of the STCW Convention have been met; 
6. Maritime Administration shall refer to the Maritime Industry Authority as the 
single government agency mandated to ensure the complete and effective 
implementation of the STCW Convention. 
7. STCW Convention shall refer to the 1978 International Convention on the 
Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, and its 
subsequent amendments. 
Section 3. Powers and Functions of the Maritime Industry Authority. The Maritime Industry 
Authority (MARINA) shall be the single and central maritime administration of the 
government. 
For this purpose, it shall administer and ensure the effective 
implementation of STCW Convention provisions governing the global maritime 
professionals. 
Section 4. Transfer of Functions to the Maritime Industry iuthority. All powers and 
functions of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Commission on Higher 
Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), 
Department of Health (DOH) and National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), 
pertaining to the issuance, validation, verification, correction, revocation, or cancellation 
of Certificates of Competency, Endorsement, Proficiency and Documentary Evidence 
required to be secured by the global maritime professionals under STCW Convention 
shall be transferred to MARINA. 
Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, MARINA shall: 
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1. Ensure that the examination and certification system for marine deck and engine 
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officers are in accordance with the requirements prescribed under STCW 
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Convention. 
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For this purpose, Republic Act No. 8544 or the "Philippine Merchant Marine 
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Officers Act of 1998" is hereby amended to the effect that all the powers, duties 
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and functions of PRC vested therein shall be exercised by MARIN A insofar as 
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they relate to marine deck and engine officers. The compensation and allowances 
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of the Board for Marine Deck Officers and Marine Engine Off,icers under Article 
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IV, Section 8 of RA 8544 shall, however, still be comparable to the compensation 
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and allowances being received by the Chairmen and members of other existing 
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regulatory boards under PRC, as provided in the General Appropriations Act. 
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2. Ensure that all maritime education, including the curricula, written and practical 
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training programs, methods and media of delivery, procedures, and course 
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materials, are structured and delivered in accordance with the international 
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standards prescribed under the STCW Convention. For this purpose, MARINA, 
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as head of the Technical Panel on Maritime Education of CHED, shall: 
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a. Review and approve maritime education programs and curricula; 
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b. Monitor and verify, in coordination with CHED, compliance with the 
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international standards for the conduct of maritime education and training 
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programs; and 
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c. Review and harmonize, in coordination with CHED and recognized 
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organizations, the procedures· for periodic evaluation, assessment, and 
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monitoring of all maritime education and training institutions. 
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3. Adopt rules and regulations, in accordance with STCW Convention, governing 
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watchkeeping, able-bodied deck and engine Ratings. MARINA shall also: 
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a. Monitor and verify compliance with the standards for Ratings; 
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b. Harmonize the procedures on periodic evaluation, assessment and 
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monitoring activities undertaken by accredited institutions for Ratings; and 
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c. Issue Certificates of Proficiency to Ratings. 
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4. Coordinate with DOH in ensuring that the medical standards established to 
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ascertain the medical fitness of seafarers are in accordance with the international 
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conventions/treaties and existing applicable laws. For this purpose, MARINA 
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shall: 
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a. Ensure that all seafarers are medically fit to perform the duties that they will 
be required to carry out at sea, in accordance with STCW Convention; 
b. Ensure that medical examinations and issuance of medical certificates by 
DOH accredited hospitals, medical clinics and laboratories, and medical 
practitioners, are in accordance with the standards prescribed by STCW 
Convention; and 
c. Ensure that medical certificates are issued by a duly qualified medical 
practitioner recognized and accredited by DOH and, for this purpose, a 
register of recognized medical practitioners shall be maintained and made 
available to seafarers, shipping companies and State parties to the STCW 
Convention. 
5. MARINA shall ensure that radio licenses are issued in accordance with STCW 
Convention. For this purpose, MARIN A shall assess, revalidate and issue 
GMDSS radio operator's certificate under the STCW Convention. 
Section 5. Authority to charge fees. MARINA, in the exercise of its regulatory powers 
under this Act, is hereby authorized to charge reasonable fees. 
Section 6. Appropriations. The amount of Ten Million Pesos (PIO Million) shall be 
allocated to MARINA for the first year of implementation of this Act. Thereafter, such 
sums as may be necessary to the continued implementation of this Act shall be included 
in the General Appropriations Act. 
Section 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. MARINA, shall issue the required 
implementing rules and regulations (IRR), in accordance with the provisions of this Act, 
within ninety (90) days from the effectivity hereof. A copy of the IRR shall be furnished 
to Congress upon its promulgation. 
Section 8. Separability Clause. If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional or invalid by the Supreme Court, the other section, or 
provisions hereof not affected by such declaration shall remain in force and in effect. 
Section 9. Repealing Clause. All existing laws, orders, decrees, rules and regulations or 
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
Section 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its publication in at 
least two (2) national papers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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