NINETEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriquez

House Bill No.2 458
EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was filed during the 18" Congress and was approved by the House of
Representatives.

Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) was established in order to produce
efficient and well trained merchant marine officers who can favorably compare with marine
officers of progressive maritime countries sufficient to carry the expanding international trade
in times of peace and capable of serving as a naval and military auxiliary in times of war and
national emergency. The PMMA seeks to educate and train midshipmen/women to become
qualified and competent merchant marine officers for shipboard and shore-based positions,
in response to the global requirements of the expanding intemational maritime industry,
competent and capable naval officers who can serve as naval and military auxiliaries in
times of war and national emergencies and contributors to the improvement of maritime
education and the poo! of ship business managers through graduate school programs.

As it is, majority of the cadets entering the PMMA come from bigger cities and
provinces and it is high time that we ensure a more balanced composition of every “Class”
that graduates from the PMMA. One way to do this is to, as far as practicable, select at least
one incoming cadet from every congressional district every year.

This way, aspiring cadets from far-flung areas are given a chance to fulfill their
dreams of becoming merchant marine and naval officers.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested.
~

RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ


NINETEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No, 2498

ANACT
MANDATING THE PHILIPPINE MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY (PMMA) TO SELECT
ONE CADET FROM EACH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT EVERY YEAR TO COMPRISE
ITS INCOMING CLASS

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. The Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) is hereby
mandated to select a student applicant from each congressional district in the Philippines to
comprise the freshman cadet class of the year following the enactment of this Act and
thereafter, to ensure that the entire country will be represented in each graduating class:
Provided, That a cadet must pass the entrance examination and comply with all the
admission requirements of the PMMA: Provided further, That for a province where there is
only one (1) congressional district, three (3) cadets shall be selected therefrom: Provided,
finally, That only upon determination that there is no qualified applicant from a certain
congressional district shall another qualified applicant be considered, irrespective of
domicile, be considered for said slot

SEC. 2. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the PMMA shall, in
consultation with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and other concerned
government agencies, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 3. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this
Act or provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 4. All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, implementing rules and
regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,