NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
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SENATE
S. No. 2469
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23 OCT 25 PI '5i
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RECEIVED H'r. 7
Introduced by Senator Francis "Tol" N. Tolentino
AN ACT
CONVERTING THE PHILIPPINE MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY INTO THE 
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL MARITIME ACADEMY AS THE PRIMARY 
INSTITUTION FOR THE BASIC AND CONTINUING HIGHER EDUCATION AND 
TRAINING OF MARITIME PROFESSIONALS AND LEADERS FOR NATIONAL 
DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,
EXPLANATORY NOTE
As the country's pioneer institution in maritime education, the Philippine 
Merchant Maritime Academy (PMMA) has produced countless master mariners, chief 
engineers, shipping executives, naval officers, and excellent educators in marine and 
maritime-related industries locally and abroad. The PMMA has become the gold 
standard in producing the finest Filipino merchant marine officers aligned with the 
international standards of ship owners and employers.
This bill seeks to expand the curriculum and course offerings of the Academy 
to make it more adaptable to the progressive and changing domestic and international 
maritime industry. Likewise, with the renaming of PMMA into the Philippine National 
Maritime Academy, the bill seeks to help address the funding deficit for its commercial 
and merchant needs, thereby leading to more equipped graduates meeting the 
European Maritime Safety Agency standards, ready for deployment.
In addition, the bill aims to augment the country's defense and maritime law 
enforcement by increasing the number of maritime officers, through additional access 
to the academy by increasing the number of campuses in Luzon, Visayas, and 
Mindanao.


With these proposed changes, it is our aim to provide more highly qualified 
graduates who are responsive to needs of the current situation and to encourage more 
Filipinos to pursue a career in the maritime industry.
It is for these reasons that the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.
JS N. TOLENTINO 
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
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23 OCT 25 PI :54
RtCEIVLDBY:
SENATE
S. No. 2469
Introduced by Senator Francis “Tol” N. Tolentino
AN ACT
CONVERTING THE PHILIPPINE MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY INTO THE 
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL MARITIME ACADEMY AS THE PRIMARY INSTITUTION 
FOR THE BASIC AND CONTINUING HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF 
MARITIME PROFESSIONALS AND LEADERS FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 
AND SECURITY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Philippine National
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Maritime Academy Charter.”
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - As an archipelagic and maritime nation, it is
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the policy of the Philippine government to:
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(1) Utilize the country’s marine assets and resources as a backbone and
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strategic addition to the country’s national development efforts;
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(2) Encourage the development of a robust domestic maritime industry that
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can support the needs of domestic and international trade;
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(3) Develop human resource pool for maritime industry development,
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maritime law enforcement, and national security;
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(4) Develop and implement maritime education and training programs for
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the basic and continuing higher education and training of maritime
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professionals in the maritime industry, maritime law enforcement, and
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maritime defense and security, among others; and


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(5) Establish and maintain autonomous higher education and training
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institutions that can cater to the education and training needs of maritime
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professionals in the Asia Pacific region and the world.
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SEC. 3. Renaming. - The Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) shall
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be renamed as the Philippine National Maritime Academy (PNMA), to reflect its
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transformations with a new and expanded mandate of providing holistic
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education and training for human resource development of maritime
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professionals and leaders in support of maritime industry development,
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maritime law enforcement, and national security.
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SEC. 4. Institutional Autonomy. - The Philippine National Maritime Academy
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(PNMA, hereinafter referred as the "Academy”) shall enjoy institutional academy and
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shall be outside the regulatory control of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
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and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA): Provided, That the Chairperson of
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CHED; and the Administrator of MARINA, shall be Ex- Officio members of the Board
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of Trustees of the Academy. It shall be attached to the Department of Transportation
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(DOTr) for policy coordination: Provided, further, That the Academy complies with
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relevant and international standards.
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SEC. 5. Powers and Functions of the Academy. - The Academy shall be
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the primary institution for the basic and continuing higher education and training of
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maritime professionals for national development and security. It shall develop
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education and training programs for the maritime industry, maritime law enforcement,
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and maritime defense and security professionals. It shall have the following powers
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and functions:
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(1) Create and modify maritime-related certificates, diplomas, or degree
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programs:
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(2) Confer certificates, diplomas, or degrees related to Marine
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Transportation, Marine Engineering, Maritime Business, and other
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maritime- related programs such as maritime administration, port and
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shipyard management, naval engineering, electro- technology,
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automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, autonomous ships, and
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digitalization;
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(3) Create and modify graduate and postgraduate degrees in maritime
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industry - related disciplines;
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(4) Confer graduate and post-graduate degrees in maritime industry -
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industry related disciplines;
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(5) Create and implement education and training programs on maritime law
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enforcement, environmental 
protection, 
maritime security, 
and
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international relations;


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(6) Create and implement Technical-Vocational education and Training 
(TVET) courses and confer appropriate certification for the same;
(7) Undertake the conduct of marine officers’ examination and assessment 
through the Academic Board in collaboration with MARINA;
(8) Create and maintain education and training curricula responsive to the 
needs of the end-users and stakeholders, compliant with the 
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and 
Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978 (STCW Convention), as amended; 
and, other regulations;
(9) Develop centers of excellence in various maritime education and training 
disciplines;
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Enter into partnerships or join consortiums of education and 
training institutions for purposes of developing and implementing 
common education and training programs;
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Create the Maritime Policy and Research & Development 
Department and other departments needed for the performance of its 
mandate;
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Create and offer short training courses that may support the 
maritime industry in terms of technical, safety, and security;
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Undertake academic exchanges, cross-training, coordination, 
and cooperation for appropriate academic programs with any one or 
more of the following education and training institutions, among others, 
including foreign maritime education institutions:
(a) Development Academy of the Philippines
(b) University of the Philippines
(c) National Defense College of the Philippines
(d) Philippine Military Academy
(e) Philippine National Police Academy
(f) Naval Education Training and Indoctrination Command (PN)
(g) Coast Guard Education Training Command (PCG)
(h) AFP Education, Training, and Doctrine Command
(i) Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC)


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The Academy may engage technical consultants from local and 
foreign maritime academic institutions or maritime industry-related 
companies such as shipyards, port operations, fisheries, and maritime 
software developers for maritime industry innovations;
(15) 
Receive donations and/or endowment funds necessary for the 
fulfillment of this mandate. Provided, That such donations and/or 
endowment funds shall be free from donor’s tax.
SEC. 6. Full Scholarship. - All cadets, midshipmen, and other students of 
9 undergraduate programs shall be granted full scholarship which includes monthly cash
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allowance, uniforms, and other miscellaneous expense: Provided, That the Board of
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Trustees shall fix the amount of financial support that will be granted to all students
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based on the recommendation of the Superintendent: Provided, further, That the PNMA
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Board of Trustees may provide scholarship benefits for students of other programs in
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cash or in kind.
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SEC. 7. Board of Trustees. - The Board of Trustees is the highest policy -
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making body of the Academy.
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(1) Composition. - The governance of the Academy is vested in a Board of 
Trustees known as the “Board of Trustees of the Philippine National 
Maritime Academy (PNMA)’’, hereinafter referred to as the “Board”, 
composed of:
(a) The Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education as 
Chairperson;
(b) The Secretary of the Department of Transportation as Co- 
Chairperson;
(c) The Superintendent of the Academy as Vice Chairperson;
(d) The Chairperson of the Committee on Higher, Technological, and 
Vocational Education of the Senate;
(e) The Chairperson of the Committee on Higher, Technological, and 
Vocational Education of the House of Representatives;
(f) The Administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority;
(g) The Flag Officer-in-Command of the Philippine Navy;
(h) The Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard;
(i) The President of the PNMA Alumni Association;


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(j) The President of the PNMA Corps of Professors, representing all 
personnel, to serve for a term of two (2) years;
(k) The President of the PNMA Student Body Organization, chosen 
by the students, to serve for a term of one (1) year.;
(2) The Board Secretary. - The Board shall be assisted by a Board 
Secretary appointed by the Board upon recommendation of the 
Superintendent. The Board Secretary shall record the meetings and 
shall ensure that decisions made by the Board are disseminated to all 
officers and units of the Academy.
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SEC. 8. The Superintendent. - The Academy shall be headed by a
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Superintendent, who shall be in charge of the overall management and leadership of
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the Academy. The Board shall elect and appoint the Superintendent and shall have the
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rank of Vice-Admiral, which shall be conferred upon by the President and Commander-
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in-Chief.
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SEC. 9. Qualifications of the Superintendent - The following shall be the 
qualifications of the Superintendent:
(1) Forty (40) years old and not more than sixty- five (65) years old at the 
time of appointment; a holder of a master’s degree from a maritime- 
related discipline, public administration, or education management;
(2) Graduates of the Academy with management- level certification or 
command- level position and experience shall be given preferential 
consideration in the selection and appointment of the Superintendent: 
Provided, that graduates of the Academy who are currently serving the 
Academy in a management and leadership position for at least three (3) 
years will be given preference in the selection and appointment.
The Board may, at its discretion, provide additional qualifications for the selection and 
appointment of the Superintendent.
SEC. 10. The Deputy Superintendents.
Superintendents who shall assist the Superintendent.
- There shall be Deputy
(1)The Superintendent for Administration. - There shall be a Deputy 
Superintendent for Administration appointed by the Board, who shall 
assist the Superintendent in managing all faculty and rank-and-file 
employees of the Academy. The Deputy Superintendent for 
Administration shall have a rank of Rear Admiral which shall be 
conferred by the President and Commander-in-Chief;


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(2) The Deputy Superintendent for Academics and Training. - There shall
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be a Deputy Superintendent for Academics and Training appointed by
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the Board, who shall oversee the management and implementation of
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all academic and training programs of the Academy. The Deputy
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Superintendent for Academics and Training shall have a rank of Rear
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Admiral which shall be conferred by the President and Commander-in-
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Chief;
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(3) The Deputy Superintendent for Research, Development, and Extension.
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- There shall be a Deputy Superintendent for Research, Development,
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and Extension appointed by the Board, who shall oversee defining and
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implementing the research and extension projects of the Academy. The
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Deputy Superintendent for Research, Development, and Extension shall
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have a rank of Rear Admiral which shall be conferred by the President
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and Commander-in-Chief;
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(4) The Deputy Superintendent for Cadet Affairs. - There shall be a Deputy
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Superintendent for Cadet Affairs appointed by the Board, who shall
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serve as the Commandant of the cadets. The Deputy Superintendent for
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Cadet Affairs shall have a rank of Rear Admiral which shall be conferred
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by the President and Commander-in-Chief.
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SEC. 11. PNMA Satellite Campuses - The Academy may establish satellite
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campuses in any part of the country subject to the approval of the Board, to meet the
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human resource requirements of the local maritime industry and the law enforcement
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and security sector: Provided, That the PMMA Cagayan De Oro created by virtue of
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Republic Act 11782 shall be under the PNMA Main Campus: Provided, further, That in
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order to democratize access and entry to the Academy, the Academy shall, to the
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extent possible, establish satellite campuses in strategic locations in Luzon, Visayas,
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and Mindanao.
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SEC. 12. The Assistant Superintendents of the PNMA Satellite Campuses
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shall serve as the Campus Administrator. Assistant Superintendents shall have a rank
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of Rear Admiral which shall be conferred by the President and Commander-in-Chief.
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SEC. 13. Qualifications of the Deputy and Assistant Superintendents. -
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The Deputy and Assistant Superintendents shall have the same qualifications as the
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Superintendent.
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SEC. 14. The Chief of Staff - There shall be a Chief of Staff appointed by the
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Superintendent, who shall assist the Superintendent in coordinating with the Central
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Staff. The Chief of Staff shall have a rank of Commodore which shall be conferred by
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the President and Commander in Chief.


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SEC. 15. Central Staff. - There shall be eight (8) Central Staff, each with the
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rank of Captain.
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(1) PNMA 1 - Administration and Human resources
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(2) PNMA 2 -Information, Intelligence, and Security Officer
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(3) PNMA 3 - Operations Officer
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(4) PNMA 4 - Finance Officer
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(5) PNMA 5 - Procurement Officer
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(6) PNMA 6 - Supply and Logistics Officer
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(7) PNMA 7 - Engineering, Repairs, and Maintenance
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(8) PNMA 8 - Plans and Programs
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SEC. 16. Regimental Organization- The Academy is a Regimental Civilian
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Uniformed Academic Unit with a military-naval rank and tradition for its Corps of
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Officers and Faculty. The operation of the Academy shall be underpinned by the
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principle of unity of command.
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Appropriate uniforms shall be provided as part of the Academy’s annual uniform
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allowance to all commissioned members of the Academy.
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SEC. 17. Departments and Offices. - The Academy shall have the following
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Departments and Offices:
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(1) Department of Cadet Affairs (DCA);
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(2) Department of Academic Affairs (DAA);
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(3) Department of Shipboard Training (DST);
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(4) Department of PNMA Fleet Management (DPFM);
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(5) Department of Naval Science and Tactics (DNST);
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(6) Department of Coast Guard and Maritime Law Enforcement (DCGMLE);
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Provided, That the Board may create additional departments in pursuit of the
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objective of this Act, upon recommendation of the superintendent: Provided, further,
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that the Superintendent shall determine the internal structures of these departments.
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SEC. 18. National Security Service. - The Commander-in-Chief through the
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Department of National Defense shall direct the Philippine Navy, through the Naval
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Reserve Command shall provide institutional mechanisms to mobilize graduates of the


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Academy to help provide technical, tactical, and intelligence information to the
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Philippine Navy in times of war or national emergency.
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SEC. 19. Commission to the AFP and PCG Force, and Other Maritime Law
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Enforcement Units. - All graduates of the Academy who are under the cadet program
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of the Philippine Navy or the Philippine Coast Guard shall be directly commissioned to
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the regular force of the Philippine Navy of the Philippine Coast Guard: Provided, That
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the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard shall set the annual quota of the
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number of graduates to be integrated to the regular force of the Philippine Navy and
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the Philippine Coast Guard: Provided, further, That graduates who are not originally
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part of the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard Billet who opt to join the
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Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, and other maritime law enforcement units
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after graduation shall be eligible for direct commissionship to the Regular Force of the
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AFP, PCG or other Maritime Law Enforcement Units: Provided, even further, That they
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comply with all the requirements for commissionship to the regular force.
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SEC. 20. PNMA Training Vessei/s. - For carrying out the purposes and
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provisions of this Act, an initial sum of five (5) billion pesos is hereby appropriated from
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funds in the National Treasury for the acquisition of appropriate Training Vessels:
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Provided, that the Academy can enter into a multi- year contract to be financed from
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funds to be allocated by the Congress. Provided, further. That the Academy may
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commission, in coordination with MARINA, privately- owned seagoing ships for its
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shipboard training requirements: Provided, even further. That the Academy may give
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shipboard training opportunities for deserving cadets nationwide.
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SEC. 21. Compensation. - Salary grades of the members of the Academy's
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commissioned officers shall be patterned after the equivalent ranks of the AFP/PCG-
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Naval rank to compensate and attract experienced professional merchant marine and
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other professionals to join the ranks of the Academy with proper compensation
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appropriate to their operational, managerial level in the international shipping industry.
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SEC. 22. Mandatory Government Service. - Graduates of any merchant
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marine course of the Academy shall serve in the government for at least four (4) years
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accrued within 15 years from graduation through any means as identified by the Board.
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SEC. 23. Congressionai District Biiieting. - To ensure the proportional
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distribution throughout the country of the cadets availing the quality education and
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opportunities in the Academy, the PNMA shall establish a system by which every
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Congressional District is given an opportunity to send cadets.
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SEC. 24. Expansion of Institutional Capability. - The Academy may re-
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employ retired personnel or retired seafarers who have acquired expertise in their
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respective fields to become part of the pool of Professors and lecturers under a contract
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of service arrangement. Provided, That the Academy shall implement and develop a
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Faculty Development Program.


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SEC. 25. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30) days
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after the approval of this Act, the Board shall promulgate the rules and regulations
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necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.
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SEC. 26. Transitory Provisions. - Within ninety (90) days from the approval
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of this Act, the Board shall promulgate the organizational structure of the Academy.
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SEC, 26. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provision of this Act that is
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declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or
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provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions can still subsist and be given
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effect in their entirety.
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SEC. 27. Repealing Clause. - All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, other
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issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
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hereby modified or repealed accordingly.
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SEC. 28. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper" of general circulation in the
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Philippines.
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Approved,