Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4032

Introduced by Representative Salvador B. Belaro, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Filipinos are known to be one if not the best maritime worker in
the world. In fact, we are known to be the “crewing capital” or
alternatively the “manning capital” of the world mainly because the
Philippines supply the biggest number of maritime crews that man and
provide support and services to ships all over the world.

The role of Filipino maritime workers and seafarers in our economy
could not be set aside. In 2014 alone, the overseas maritime workers
sent home $5.6 billion in cash, equivalent to PhP 252 billion which is
equivalent to about a fifth of the $26.9 billion OFW remittance for the
year.

This position of Filipino seafarers in the global! maritime industry is
however being threatened by their Chinese and Indonesian counterparts
who have always been showing consistent improvements year in and year
out by way of having advanced technologies and modernized facilities in
their respective maritime schools. If our education system will not support
the maritime industry, there is always the danger of being delisted from
the whitelist of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that will
prejudice the chances of Filipino seafarers and maritime workers of being
hired in international ships.

It is but fitting and proper that we put our money where our mouth
is, so to speak, and support maritime education given the proven and
potential contribution of the industry to our national growth and progress.

_ £ a
SALVADOR B. BELARO, JR.
Representative
1-Ang Edukasyon Party List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Brit No. 4032

Introduced by Representative Salvador B. Belaro, Jr.

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE MARITIME EDUCATION IN THE
PHILIPPINES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Maritime
Education Act of 2016.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy.The State shall establish means to promote
quality maritime education across the country.

SEC. 3. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in consultation with
the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Department of
Transportation (DoTr) are mandated to establish a comprehensive
maritime education policy that will ensure that the policies and standards
being implemented across all public and private schools offering maritime
courses and trainings are consistent with the requirements of the
International Maritime Organization (IMO). Specifically, the CHED is
herein mandated to establish advanced learning methodologies and
standardized and modern facilities that will define the competitive
advantage of Filipino seafarers.

SEC. 4. The funds necessary to carry out the provision of this Act shall be
included in the General Appropriation Act of the year following its
enactment into law and thereafter.


SEC. 5. All laws, orders, issuances rules and regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified

or amended accordingly.

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved.