FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILITPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes Iv 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
During the last two decades, the rapid development of the marine profession as well as the 
marine industry, both in the academic and technological aspects, have made the requirements of 
future marine officers per P.D. No. 97 quite obsolete. The advances in the international field 
have been more phenomenal among the Western countries who are members of the International 
Maritime Organization (IMO) 
with the Philippines lagging behind. 
Procedures and equipments of modern merchant vessels have not only increased in complexities 
but have been constantly improving by the adoption of new developments in science and 
technology further promoting efficiency and safety of operations. 
Of utmost concern to the country is the state of affairs of its domestic or coastwise shipping 
industry where there are numerous vessels with lower than 200 gross tons capacity that are 
manned by unqualified seafarers. Based from the reports of sea disasters, these accidents may 
just have been due to human errors negligence. This is primarily due to the lack of sound and 
solid education on the field despite the years of actual sailing. 
The age of computerization and automation only heightens the problem. We cannot be caught 
flat-footed, We therefore have to upgrade not just the techniques, hut most of all, the basic 
academic and hands-on experience qualifications. 
Stiffer competition with our Asian neighbors and Eastern European countries only emphasizes 
our lack of these essentials pre-requisites. For this reason, we need to use our naval vessels when 
they are not engaged in emergencies for the training of our future deck officer, engineers and 
crewmen apart from the traditional vessels that lend them apprenticeship training. 
Approval of the bill is, therefore, earnestly urged. 
++&\I- 
ANT’ONIC) “SONNY” F. TRILLANES n, 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes N 
AN ACT 
AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NUMBERED 
NINETY-SEVEN, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE PHILIPPINE 
MERCHANT MARINE OFFICERS LAW" 
Be in enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 15 of the Presidential Decree Numbered Ninety-Seven, as 
amended, otherwise known as the Philippine Merchant Marine Officers Law is hereby 
amended to read as follows: 
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"Sec. 15. Admission Requirements for Examination. - No person shall be 
qualified for examination as a marine officer unless he/she is: 
"[ (a) male; ] 
"[ (b) ] (A) 
"[ (c) ] Q3) 
"[ (d) ] (C) 
Citizen of the Philippines; 
At least twenty-one years of age; 
Mentally-sound and physically fit with normal vision 
perception, as certified by a competent physician; and 
Of good moral character." 
"[ (e) ] (D) 
SEC. 2. Paragraphs (d), (e) and (f) of Section 16 of the same Decree are hereby 
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amended as follows: 
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"SEC. 16. Requirements of Deck Officers. - 
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“(d) third Mate. - applicant must be a holder of a degree of Bachelor of 
Science in Marine Transportation, major in Navigation and Seamanship, after 
completion of a nautical curriculum of academic and theoretical studies, and 
twelve months of practical apprenticeship which must be served on [merchant 
marine] BOARD SEAGOING VESSELS of not less than two hundred [fifty] 
gross tons registered for foreign or coastwise trade to qualify for third mate 
license. A LOGBOOK SHALL HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AND [the] 
certification of service issued by the Master and Chief Mate of the vessel. The 
apprenticeship shall be under the supervision of a permanent staff of the 
institution assigned solely for such purpose. 
“(e) Major Patron -An applicant for Patron in major coastwise trade shall 
be at least twenty-five ONE years of age and shall produce a certificate showing 
that he/she has COMPLETED TWO YEARS IN NAUTICAL SCIENCE or its 
equivalent in an officially recognized school and heiSHE has navigated on a 
coastwise or a [high sea] SEA-GOING vessel as boatswain, quartermaster, 
[sailor] ABLE SEAMAN or apprentice mate [on a merchant marine vessel] of not 
less than tow hundred [fifty] gross tons for a period of at least [ten] TWO (2) 
years [ or that he has navigated as minor patron for at least five years]. 
“(f) Minor Patron - An applicant for certificate for patron in [the] Minor 
coastwise trade shall not less than twenty-five ONE years of age and shall 
produce satisfactory evidence showing that he/SHE has passe [high school] THE 
ONE YEAR BASIC MERCHANT SEAMAN‘S COURSE or its equivalent in an 
officially-recognized school and that he has [navigated] SERVED AS 
APPRENTICE OR SEAMEN FOR ONE YEAR ON BOARD a coastwise vessel 
of NOT LESS than thirty (30) gross tons [or over a period of not less than five 
years] AND ONE ( I )  YEAR ON BOARD COASTWISE VESSEL OF NOT 
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LESS THAN ONE HLJNDRED GROSS TONS as boatswain, quartermaster, [or 
sailor] ABLE SEAMAN.” 
SEC. 3. Paragraphs (d) and (e) of Section 17 of the same Decree are hereby 
amended to read as follows: 
“SEC. 17. Engine Officers. - 
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“(d) Fourth Marine Engineer. - An applicant must be at least a 
[second year high school] GRADUATE OF THE? FOUR-YEAR BACHELOR OF 
SCIENCE IN MARINE ENGINEERING IN A SCHOOL recognized by the 
government, having served for at least SIX MONTHS as apprentice IN A 
SHIPYARD AND SIX MONTHS AND/OR ONE YEAR CONTINIOUS ON 
BOARD VESSEL AS APPRENTICE, engineer, oiler, or machinist on vessels 
propelled by motor or steam engineers of not less than two hundred fifty BHP [. 
Under this category, he must pass through a review class before admitted to take 
examinations]: Provided, however, That [if the applicant is a marine engineer 
graduate, of a recognized school, he must have at least served two years as 
apprentice engineer, oiler, or machinist: Provided, further, That a certificate of 
service is issued] AN ENGINEER MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED AND DULY 
SIGNED by the Chief Engineer and Master of the vessel and duly authenticated 
by the ship owner or by the ship representative of the vessel. 
“(e) Motor Engineer. - An applicant shall be at least twenty-one 
years of age, a graduate [of elementary school] IN ASSOCIATE IN MARWE 
ENGINEERING 
OR 
ITS 
EQUIVALENT RECOGNIZED 
BY 
THE? 
GOVERNMENT, and shall produce satisfactory evidence showing that he has 
served as APPRENTICE ENGINEER, WIPER, oiler, machinist or apprentice 
motor engineer FOR SIX MONTHS IN A SHIPYARD AND SIX MONTHS ON 
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CONTINOUS SERVICE.” 
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BOARD A motor vessel OR CRAFT PROPELLED [for at least five years] 
WITH NOT LESS THAN TWO HUNDRED FIFTY BHP OR ONE YEAR OF 
SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. 
Approved, 
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