FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 2509 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The conversion of the Philippine Nautical School founded in 1820 to Philippine 
Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) was enacted into law by virtue of RA 3680 in 1963. 
The PMMA confers Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Transportation, Major in 
Navigation and Seamanship and Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Transportation 
Major in Steam Engine and Electrical Engineering. 
PMMA's dedication to produce quality merchant marine officers has placed most 
of its graduates to work in different parts of the world to be in charge of international 
vessels utilized for commercial trade and similar marine indu1/JW" 
... ,I 
While the government is duty bound to subsidize the PMMA students tliltoughout 
their four-year course, the cadets are not obliged to render service to the government 
after they are conferred with a bachelor's degree. It has been the long time sentiment 
among the maritime industry players, as well as the government, to require the 
graduates to render mandatory service to the civil service sector. 
This bill simply seeks to amend the existing charter of PMMA by including a 
provision that mandates all graduates to render at least 24 months of service in any 
government agency right after their graduation. 
In order to keep with the international marine industry standards, this bill likewise 
amended the term for the positions of "third mate" to "OPERATIONAL LEVEL DECK 
WATCH 
KEEPING 
OFFICER" 
and 
the 
term 
"fourth 
stream 
engineers" 
to 
OPERATIONAL LEVEL ENGINE WATCH KEEPING OFFICERS", which effectively 
removed distinctions in the different grade levels in third mate and fourth stream 
engineers pOSitions. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly 
requested. 
MAN~(PID 
Senator 
!,!-,j 
I 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 2509 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTING MANDATORY GOVERNMENT SERVICE TO GRADUATES 
OF PHILIPPINE MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY (PMMA), AMENDING 
FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3680 AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
, 
SECTION 1. Section 12 of Republic Act no. 3680 is hereby amended to read: 
Section 12. Graduates of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy 
who are 
holders of a Bachelor of Science degree in 
Marine 
Transportation, major in navigation and seamanship, shall be exempted 
from taking the [third mate] OPERATIONAL LEVEL DECK WATCH 
KEEPING OFFICERS' examination. Likewise, those who are holders of a 
Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering shall be exempted from taking 
the [fourth stream engineers' examination] OPERATIONAL LEVEL 
ENGINE WATCH KEEPING OFFICERS' examination. 
SECTION 
12-A. 
ALL 
CADETS 
OF 
THE 
PMMA 
UPON 
COMPLETION OF THEIR ACADEMIC DEGREE, SHALL BE REQUIRED 
TO RENDER A CONTINUOUS OR STAGGERED SERVICE OF A 
MINIMUM OF TWENTY FOUR (24) MONTHS IN ANY GOVERNMENT 
AGENCY, BUREAU, INSTITUTION OR INSTRUMENTALITY. SAID 
SERVICE SHALL COMMENCE AFTER GRADUATION AND MUST BE 
COMPLETED 
ON 
OR 
BEFORE 
THE 
FIFTH 
YEAR 
AFTER 
GRADUATION. 
1 


PROVIDED THAT, IN THE EVENT THAT THE CADET IS 
DETERMINED TO HAVE FAILED OR REFUSED TO CARRY OUT 
SUCH GOVERNMENT SERVICE OBLIGATION, THE TOTAL AM OUT 
SPENT FOR THE STUDY WILL BE TREATED AS A LOAN AND 
COLLECTED FROM THE CADET IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 
GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS SET FORTH BY THE PMMA. 
SEC. 2. 
Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any seclion or provision 
of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the other section or provision not 
otherwise affected shall remain valid. 
SEC. 3. 
Repealing Clause. -
All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, proclamations, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 4. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved, 
2