EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
6439

House Bill No.
EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, originally named Escuela Nautica de Manila, is
one of the oldest institutions in the Philippines. It was created by virtue of a Spanish Royal
Decree issued on January 1, 1820 through the recommendation of the Spanish Consulate of
Commerce. It was inaugurated on April 5, 1820 in its initial location at Intramuros, Manila.

Founded as a school for merchant marine officers, it opened classes in a building at Calle
Cabildo inside the Walled City of Intramuros for some time until it was destroyed by an
earthquake in 1863. Since then, it was moved several times to different locations — to Calle
San Juan de Letran, to Calle Palacio in 1884 and to Binondo in 1898.

Before the end of the Spanish Rule, the school was placed under the civil government. Its
most distinguished alumnus at that time was Captain Pascual Ledesma who led several
Filipino Officers of the Spanish Royal Navy to join the Philippine Revolution under General
Emilio Aguinaldo. For his feat, he was given a rank of General and made the first
Commander of the Philippine Navy.

The school was temporarily closed during the Philippine Revolution. Recognizing the value
and merit of the nautical school, the American authorities reopened it on December 15, 1899
and renamed it Nautical School of the Philippine Islands.

Then the school was moved to a US Navy warehouse in Calle Sta. Elena in San Nicolas.
Staffed with four Americans and one Filipino, the medium of instruction was English. The
Americans made immediate provisions for a vigorous administration and started the
construction of a bigger building to accommodate an average enrollment of 150 cadets. All
facilities, equipment, and other instructional materials were also provided by the government
in an effort to raise the standard of the institution.

Later the school was renamed Philippine Nautical School (PNS), which resumed classes on
June 30, 1900. PNS was classified as an insular school and was headed by US Navy
commanders until it was closed in 1907 for lack of support.

In 1913, Don Ramon Femandez, President of the Ship owner's Association during the time
recommended the reopening of the school to answer the urgent need for trained merchant
marine officers. It was established as a unit of the Philippine School of Arts and Trades
which was located at Aroceros St., Manila, and then later moved to Roberts St., Pasay City

‘Some years before the outbreak of the World War II, the school was headed by Francisco
Castafieda, an experienced Master Mariner. He held the distinction of being the first Filipino
Superintendent of PNS. Later, Lt. Andrada, a graduate of the US Naval Academy in
Annapolis joined the school and became its first Filipino Executive Officer. The Nautical
Course consisted of a two-year residency program at PNS and two-year apprenticeship at
sea, in any order. With war clouds hovering the Pacific, supervision of the PNS was
transferred from the Department of Education to the Department of National Defense.


During World War Il, the Japanese Imperial Forces did not close the PNS but rather, it was
‘expanded into a bigger establishment that included not only training of nautical officers but
also of marine engineers and ordinary seamen. This alone showed how every government
realized the importance of a nautical school.

After the liberation and the early days of the Republic of the Philippines, the school was
revived but still under the Department of National Defense. Captain Castafieda likewise
reassumed his position as Superintendent of the PNS. It was also at this period when the
nautical school was converted to a two-year residential college due to an acute need for
Filipino merchant marine officer to replace their American counterparts. This condition lasted
until the 1950's, Due to lack of facilities, residency requirements were also waived so that
cadets were allowed to live off-campus. Aggravating this situation was the lack of legislative
support, and worst, the PNS was placed under the Vocational Division of the Bureau of
Public Schools instead of the Bureau of Higher Education. This resulted in the deterioration
of the school's standard of maritime education and training, giving opportunities for private
schools to flourish as business enterprises.

In 1963, Republic Act 3680 converted the Philippine Nautical School into the Philippine
Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA), conferring the degree of Bachelor of Science in Marine
Transportation (BSMT) major in Navigation and Seamanship or in Steam Engineering and
Electricity, and automatically granting the Third Mate and Fourth Marine Engineer licenses
without Professional Regulation Commission Examination to its graduates. In line with this
development, the residency requirements were restored thus cadets were required to live in-
campus during their first, second and fourth year at the PMMA. The third year was
programmed for their planned, supervised sea project-correspondence oriented
apprenticeship shipboard training

The school was relocated at Fort Bonifacio, Makati City in 1968. From then on, it was placed
under the Department of Transportation and Communications. in 1997 it was placed directly
under the supervision of the Commission on Higher Education.

After thirty-one years of stay at Fort Bonifacio, PMMA was transferred to a 602,292 square
meters lot at Naval Station in San Narciso, Zambales on February 2, 1998 pursuant to
Proclamation No. 937, dated December 16, 1996 by former President Fidel V. Ramos.

Itis about time that we upgrade and strengthen the PMMA in order to meet the needs of the
international and domestic shipping industry.

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

RUFUS B. ROD! EZ


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
House Bill'No. 6439

AN ACT
UPGRADING AND STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE MERCHANT MARINE
ACADEMY TO MEET THE STRATEGIC NEEDS OF THE CHANGING INTERNATIONAL
AND DOMESTIC MARITIME INDUSTRY, IN EFFECT, ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL
ECONOMIC AND NATIONAL DEFENSE SITUATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Republic of the Philippines
in Congress assembled.

Section 1. The PHILIPPINE MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY in order to meet the needs of
the ever changing global economy and national security, such that it no longer focuses on
merchant marine trade shall be diversified with Naval, Maritime Law Enforcement and other
Maritime Trade and development. Therefore, PMMA shall be engaged in the following
academic engagements:

a. Conferment of Bachelor's Degree in Marine Transportation (Major in Ship
Management and minor in maritime cyber security)

b. Conferment of Bachelor's Degree in Marine Engineering (Major in Communications,
Electrical and minor in Maritime Software development)

c. Graduates of Philippine Merchant Marine Academy who are holders of a Bachelor of
Science degrees shall be exempted from taking Operational Level Assessment

d. Conferment of Post Graduate degrees in Ship Management, and Maritime Education

e. Creation of Research & Development Department engaged in the Academic
Development of the PMMA and the Maritime Industry in general. The said
Department shall be headed by a PhD category or MNSA graduate.

f. Full academic freedom status shall be bestowed to PMMA, wherein the Research
Department shall monitor its annual academic growth and requirement with reference
to world economic and shipping trends. The PMMA:

i. Shall be supervised by the CHED, being a maritime higher education
institution, ensuring its dependence and compliance to technical world
shipping requirements.

Shall be known as the third official Service Academy for Naval and
Maritime Law Enforcement Institutions and Agencies
il, Shall develop and open short training courses that may support the
Maritime Industry in terms of technical, safety and security. i.e TESDA
accredited short courses related to shipping, maritime engineering and
marine services.
iv. Ensure that all students shall be full scholars ranging from billeting,
haircut, laundry, meals, uniform (all forms-from athletic, daily attire,
BDUs, Parade and Gala Uniforms)
v. Provide monthly cash allowance to all cadets depending on their
equivalent PCG-AFP rank with monthly stipend rates
g. The academic format shall meet the needs of the following government sector and
the World Maritime Industry as follows:
i. Philippine Navy
ii. Philippine Coast Guard


il, Philippine National Police Maritime Command

iv. International Shipping and Maritime Industry

v. International and National Maritime Industry as Ship Surveyors,
Shipping/Crewing Managers, Port Managers, Maritime Academic
Institution Deans

vi. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

vii, NAMRIA- National Mapping Resources Information Authority
Vili, Philippine Ports Authority
ix. National Coast Watch Council
x. The PMMA shall also cater the Basic Maritime Training and
Theoretical requirements for Naval Reservist and Coast Guard
Auxiliary that their respective organization requires. Board and lodging
shall be shouldered by the said organizations respectively.

h. Cross Training, coordination and cooperation for appropriate academic curriculum vis
a vis shall include the following:

|. Philippine Military Academy

ii. Philippine National Police Academy

il, National Defense College of the Philippines

iv. Development Academy of the Philippines

v. Naval Education Training Command (PN)

vi. Coast Guard Education Training Command (PCG)
vii, AFP Education, Training and Doctrine Command
vii, Foreign Maritime Institutions (Asia, US and Europe)

i. PMMA shall maintain foreign technical consultants from foreign Maritime Academic
institutions and or from shipping related companies such as shipyards, maritime
software developers in order to develop local maritime software in the future. These
consultants may be in form of Goverment to Government, IMO, or Existing Foreign
Technical government consultants.

Section 2. The PMMA shall be headed by a Superintendent with a licensed Master Mariner
or Chief Marine Engineer with a Master's Degree related to Maritime Industry or Master in
National Security Administration, primarily alumnus of the PMMA and appointed by the
President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the PMMA Board. The powers of the
‘Superintendent shall be usually pertaining to a president of a college with regimental system

Section 3. Board of Trustees. - The govemance of the Academy is vested in a board,
hereinafter referred to as the Board of Trustees, which shall be composed of the following:
. Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
. Secretary of the Department of Transportation
. PMMA Superintendent
|. PMMA Alumni Association President
Filipino Ship Manning Association President
Filipino Ship Owners Association President
Congressional Representative from Maritime Party List
Congressional Representative- Chairman of Transportation
Navy Flag Officer in Command
Philippine Coast Guard Commandant
Philippine National Police Maritime Command Director
President of the Faculty Association, representing all personnel, to serve for a term of
2 years
m. President of the Student Body Organization, chosen by the students, to serve for a
term of 1 year

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Section 4. The PMMA organization is a Regimental Civilian Armed Uniformed Academic
Unit under the DOTR similar to the PCG with a military-naval rank for its Corps of Officers


and Faculty and may be integrated to the PCG or Armed Forces of the Philippines in times
of war or national emergency upon the directives of the Commander in Chief.
‘Appropriate uniforms shall be provided for as part of Academy's annual uniform
allowance to all commissioned members of the PMMA organization.
Salary grades of the members PMMA commissioned officers shall be pattemed after
the equivalent ranks of the AFP.
The Superintendent is the over-all administrator and academic director of the
Academy with a rank of 3 Stars or Vice Admiral of the PMMA.
The Assistant Superintendent for Operations is in charge of the Academy Operations
with a rank of 2 stars or Rear Admiral of the PMMA.
The Assistant Superintendent for Administration is In charge of all faculty and rank
and file employees of the Academy with a rank of 2 stars or Rear Admiral of the PMMA.
The PMMA Chief of Staff shall be the traffic officer of the staff officers of the
Superintendent with a rank of 1 star or Commodore of the PMMA.
The following are the Central Staff of PMMA with a rank of PMMA Captain or full
colonel:
a. PMMA — 1 or Administration and Human Resources
b. PMMA- 2 or Information, Intelligence and Security Officer
c. PMMA- 3 or Operations Officer ( with experience in Corporate Management,
Military, Coast Guard and or Academe)
PMMA — 4 or Finance Officer (with BS Accountancy experience and license)
. PMMA-5 or Procurement, Supply and Logistics Officer ( with background in
accountancy, logistics and supply)
f. PMMA-6 or Engineering, Repairs and Maintenance Officer (With background
in Engineering) the job will include two units (Shore and Sea Surface
Facilities)

a

Section 5. Departments of the PMMA
a. Department of the cadet/midshipmen - Commandant of Cadets (Alumnus of Service
Academy or PMMA) with a rank of 1 star or PMMA Commodore. He will be in charge of the
daily routine of cadets and their discipline including prevention of hazing in a regimental
environment. Under him will be;

Deputy Commandant of Cadets in charge of Tactical Officers with a rank of PMMA
Captain

b. Department of Academics shall be 1 star or Commodore with a minimum qualification of
Master's Degree in Maritime Academics and License Merchant Marine and under him/her
shall be 5 academic departments:

Dean of Marine Transportation with a rank of PMMA Captain

Dean of Marine Engineering with a rank of PMMA Captain

Dean of Graduate/Post Studies with a rank of PMMA Captain

Dean of Technical Studies (Ratings, TESDA and Training Courses) with a
rank of PMMA Captain

Dean of Sports Department (Sports and Martial Arts) with a rank of PMMA
Captain

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c. Department of Shipboard Training

Dean of Ship Board Training with a rank of PMMA Captain must be a Master
Mariner. The main job is to ensure shipboard training of all cadets enrolled in the program
whether organic PMMA Cadets or Private Maritime School Cadets enrolled in the program.

Assistant Dean of Shipboard Training Department for Operations shall be a licensed
Merchant Marine Officer with a rank of Commander. The function is to ensure that all cadets
are monitored daily for their respective vessel operations with Remote Bridge Monitoring
System.


Ship Management General Manager — To operate the economic and financial aspect
of the Training Ship of the PMMA. The GM shall have a rank of Commander or Captain

d. Department of Naval Science and Tactics
The Department of Naval Science and Tactics shall focus on the development of
Cadets joining the Philippine Navy.

e. Department of Coast Guard and Law Enforcement

The Department of Coast Guard and Law Enforcement shall be created to focus on
the development of Cadets joining the PCG, NAMRIA and PNP maritime law enforcement
group.

Section 6. PMMA Multi Role Training Vessel. - The PMMA shall have an MRTV or Multi
Role Training Vessel and additional two 32- meters Fast Patrol Boats to be acquired from
the source of the PCG's OPV 270 models from France and a turkey project which is a
Hybrid (Diesel-Electric) Vessel that shall be utilized for the following strategic maritime
functions:
a. Asa Training Vessel for organic PMMA and private maritime school cadets
specially from Mindanao areas.
b. To be used as standby vessel for mass repatriation of Filipino OFWs
anywhere in the world.
¢. For Environmental, Maritime and Anti-Smuggling Patrol with the PCG,
Customs, BFAR and Naval officers and personnel. The PMMA shall be the
carrier and operator of the vessel.
. For Anti Marine Pollution operations
e. For Search and Rescue Operations
f. For Naval Reservist and Coast Guard Auxiliary Shipboard Familiarization and
Training

n 7. All Congressional Districts are given the privilege to endorse a Congressional
Nominee for a slot in every school year. All candidates must be endorsed by their respective
Congressional Representatives.

Three (3) candidates with good academic and good moral character shall be
recommended by their respective Congressman but only one will be accepted among the
three (3) candidates annually upon passing the rigid academic, mental and physical
examination.

The purpose of this congressional billet of cadets is to ensure that all districts will
have the chance to develop their districts socially and economically.

Section 8. Mandatory government service and repayment scheme for failure to complete
required service. - Each cadet/midshipman joining the foreign Merchant Marine will have a
mandatory accumulated 2 years of service within the period of 10 years in any government
service as active or reserve or auxiliary officer serving the teaching, research or technical
discipline (onboard, engineering or consultancy) particularly with the Navy Reserve or as.
Coast Guard Auxiliary officers. Teaching at PMMA, PMA, PNPA, NDCP, NETC, CGETC and
other uniformed or civilian govemment post like PPA,NAMRIA and others are also
considered counted in the mandatory service.

Monitoring of the Alumni for their accumulated service shall be under PMMA-
Shipboard Training Department. Annual reporting is also mandatory by personal
appearance, e-mail or by snail mail are acceptable with status. December and June bi-
annual reporting shall be imposed to all alumni in order to find out their actual employment
status within the first 10 years after graduation.

Cooperation with PMMA-PMMA Alumni Association shall also be recommended with
the creation of their office inside the PMMA main campus to ensure full tracking of
graduates.


Graduates who will fail to complete 2 years mandatory service within 10 years from
the Merchant Marine Service shall pay the full amount of scholarship on the present value
after 10 years in order for the said amount to be used by the succeeding cadet/midshipmen.

Short of 2 years government service may be computed in fraction based on their
number of years of service and shortage of period to be based in ratio and proportion. Basis
of tuition fees and computation shall be the present actual value to ensure inflation rate is
included.

None completion of 2 years and none retum of tuition fees and expenses shall mean
none renewal of all travel documentation for shipboard employment either local or foreign.

Civil liabilities and criminal for breach of contract shall be applied for failure to
comply.

Foreign-based graduates with change of nationality or holding dual citizenships
within 10 years shall report to the Philippine Embassy of their respective foreign domicile
and shall comply with their responsibilities of 2 years of service or refund of scholarship
benefits

Section 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30) days from the approval
of this Act, the PMMA, the Department of Transportation and the CHED shall promulgate the
rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.

Section 10. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provision of this Act that is declared
unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or provisions hereof as
long as such remaining portions can stil subsist and be given effect in their entirety.

Section 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, other issuances or
parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

Section 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,