Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  1593 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) was established in order to produce 
efficient and well-trained merchant marine officers who can favorably compare with marine 
officers of progressive maritime countries sufficient to carry the expanding international trade 
in times of peace and capable of serving as a naval and military auxiliary in times of war and 
national emergency. 
The PMMA seeks to educate and train midshipmen/women to become qualified and 
competent merchant marine officers for shipboard and shore-based positions, in response to 
the global requirements of the expanding international maritime industry, competent and 
capable naval officers who can serve as naval and military auxiliaries in times of war and 
national emergencies and contributors to the improvement of maritime education and the pool 
of ship business managers through graduate school programs. 
It cannot be denied that most cadets entering the PMMA come from bigger cities and 
provinces. This is most likely due to the lack of access of those coming from far-flung areas. 
In order to be more balanced and to give equal opportunity to everyone dreaming of becoming 
a PMMA graduate, we should mandate that, as far as practicable, there should be at least one 
incoming cadet from every congressional district in every graduating class. 
This bill seeks to institutionalize inclusive representation by mandating the PMMA to 
select at least one cadet from each congressional district annually, thereby ensuring that all 
parts of the country are given equal opportunity to benefit from high-quality maritime 
education. 
July 8, 2025
5:06 pm


This measure is anchored on the constitutional principle under Article XIV, Section 1 
of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which mandates the State to protect and promote the right 
of all citizens to quality education at all levels and take appropriate steps to make such 
education accessible to all. By guaranteeing geographic representation, the bill aims to bridge 
regional disparities in access to public maritime education and promote national development 
through a more diverse, regionally representative maritime corps. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  1593 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE PHILIPPINE MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY (PMMA) TO 
SELECT ONE CADET FROM EACH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT EVERY YEAR TO 
COMPRISE ITS INCOMING CLASS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. The Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) is hereby mandated 
to select a student applicant from each congressional district in the Philippines to comprise 
the freshman cadet class of the year following the enactment of this Act and thereafter, to 
ensure that the entire country will be represented in each graduating class: Provided, That a 
cadet must pass the entrance examination and comply with all the admission requirements of 
the PMMA: Provided further, That for a province where there is only one (1) congressional 
district, three (3) cadets shall be selected therefrom: Provided, finally, That only upon 
determination that there is no qualified applicant from a certain congressional district shall 
another qualified applicant be considered, irrespective of domicile, be considered for said slot. 
SEC. 2. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the PMMA shall, in 
consultation with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and other concerned 
government agencies, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 3. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this 
Act or provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 


 
SEC. 4. All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, implementing rules and 
regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,