EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No, 6398
EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) is the only goverment maritime
higher education institution tasked to produce merchant marine officers. It has been in
existence for 200 years now and has produced graduates such as merchant marine officers
who continue to dominate in the world fleet as well become executives in manning and
shipping agencies.

There are about 1.6 million seafarers in the intemational labor market. Of this
number, 30% are Filipino seafarers who operate the world's merchant fleet which eared the
Philippines its title as the manning capital of the world. Lately, however, China has overtaken
the Philippines as number one provider of officers to the world fleet while the Philippines
continue to be the number one provider of ratings. The challenge now is how the Philippines
can regain its position as the number one provider of merchant marine officers. It must be
able to provide the shipping sector with highly qualified merchant marine officers.

With this, it is about time for the PMMA’s expansion to the whole country through the
establishment of a campus in the Visayas and Mindanao. Expansion in Visayas and
Mindanao will make free quality maritime education accessible to people with less
‘opportunity to this kind of education. The PMMA has free tuition and other school fees as per
Republic Act 10931 otherwise known as the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education
Act.

Data for the past five years, 2015 to 2019, reveal that PMMA's reach are mostly in
Luzon and very insignificant in the Visayas and Mindanao with 82% of the applicants coming
from Luzon area while only 8% and 10% are from Visayas and Mindanao respectively. The
low number of applicants can be attributed to the fact that the PMMA is located in Metro
Manila. Further, there is quite a distance from Visayas and Mindanao to the testing centers
and the lack of a strong marketing strategy that will reach even the most remote places of
the country. Thus, establishing the expansion campus in these two islands will provide
access to people at minimum expense since they do not have to go to Manila for the
purpose. This will hopefully increase the intake of applicants and consequently the number
of passers from these two areas. Likewise, having these two campuses will decongest
Luzon ad applicants will no longer be going to Manila if they want to study in a maritime
higher education institution. Having more graduates from Visayas and Mindanao areas will
help elevate the quality of life not just of the students and their families, but also their
‘community and the region as a whole.

It must be considered that for several decades, Mindanao’s economic growth has
been affected by armed conflict and poor govemance. Furthermore, Mindanao is home to
about 24% of the country’s population and it also accounts for over 40% of the poor or less
privileged.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested.

RUFUS B. ROI jUEZ


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ;
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING PHILIPPINE MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY EXTENSION CAMPUS IN
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY FOR MINDANAO, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. There is hereby established a Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA)
Extension Campus in Cagayan de Oro City subject to the provisions of Republic Act 3680.

SEC 2. The amount of One Billion Pesos (Php 1,000,000,000) is hereby appropriated for the
establishment of the PMMA Extension Campus in Cagayan de Oro City. Said fund shall be
used for the acquisition of land, construction of the school, purchase of equipment, furniture,
fixtures, and for personnel services. Thereafter, the amount necessary to ensure the
continued operations and maintenance of the three PMMA Campuses shall be included in
the Annual General Appropriations Act

SEC 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The PMMA and the Commission of Higher
Education shall formulate the implementing rules and regulations to carry out the
implementation of this Act.

SEC 4. Separability Clause. If, for any reason, any part or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions hereof which are not affected thereby
shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC 5. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or
portions thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

SEC 6. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,