Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by MARINO Party-list Representative 
SANDRO L. GONZALEZ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A MARITIME EDUCATION AND TRAINING REGIME, 
CREATING A TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON MARITIME EDUCATION 
AND TRAINING, CENTRALIZING SHIPBOARD TRAINING, GRANTING 
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MARITIME STUDENTS, MODIFYING THE 
REQUIREMENTS FOR MARINE DECK/ENGINE OFFICER 
EXAMINATION, CREATING ADDITIONAL TRAINING FACILITIES, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The maritime profession is unique in a sense that it is the only profession globally 
which competencies and skills requirements are governed by a convention – the 
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping, 1978, As 
Amended (STCW Convention). 
The STCW Convention only requires seafarers onboard Convention-size ships to 
possess the necessary certifications, evidencing their training, competencies and health status 
and no other. A degree in maritime studies is not a requirement under the STCW Convention. 
However, in the Philippines, the maritime profession is partly being regulated by 
Republic Act No. 8544, otherwise known as the Philippine Merchant Marine Officers Act of 
1998, Section 14(d) of which requires applicants for Operational Level (officers) to be 
graduates of Bachelor of Science in Maritime Transportation or Bachelor of Science in Marine 
Engineering in a school, academy, institute, college or university duly recognized by the 
Commission on Higher Education (CHED). This is the reason why non-holders of the afore-
mentioned degrees cannot become officers despite having extensive sea service experience. 
This representation believes that with the rapid evolution of technology and 
development in the maritime industry, so must change the way we treat maritime education 
and training, without sacrificing the quality of Filipino maritime professionals. 
July 1, 2022
3:51 pm
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This bill aims to adopt a Modern Maritime Education and Training Regime which will, 
among others, create a maritime strand under the K-12 program and adopt a modular curricula 
for maritime education and training, with the aim to prepare maritime students for deployment 
as early as 2 years into their tertiary education, thereby further improving the quality of our 
Filipino seafarers while allowing them to maximize their earning opportunity and providing 
them with options to enjoy the fruits of their labor with their family at a much earlier time. 
It also recognizes the fact that additional job competency requirements are evolving 
with the advancement and developments in the maritime industry. Thus, including as part of 
the Regime the creation of additional maritime courses, such as port management, which will 
address the “new” needs of the maritime industry. 
In support of the needs of maritime students and professionals, this bill also proposes 
to provide Student Financial Assistance Program and Seafarers’ Continuous Upgrading 
Program, as well as establish additional government-owned training facilities where our 
seafarers can obtain the necessary quality training for a reasonable price. 
In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this proposed measure is earnestly sought. 
SANDRO L. GONZALEZ 
Representative 
MARINO Party-list 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by MARINO Party-list Representative 
SANDRO L. GONZALEZ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A MARITIME EDUCATION AND TRAINING REGIME, 
CREATING A TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON MARITIME EDUCATION 
AND TRAINING, CENTRALIZING SHIPBOARD TRAINING, GRANTING 
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MARITIME STUDENTS, MODIFYING THE 
REQUIREMENTS FOR MARINE DECK/ENGINE OFFICER 
EXAMINATION, CREATING ADDITIONAL TRAINING FACILITIES, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
TITLE AND POLICY 
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as “The Maritime Education and 
Training Act”. 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the duty of the State to promote 
industrialization and full employment through industries that make full and efficient use of 
human and natural resources, and which are competitive in both domestic and foreign markets. 
Thus, the State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education and 
training at all levels, and take appropriate steps to make such education and training accessible 
to all. 
In recognition of the important role of the maritime profession in national and economic 
development, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to institutionalize a maritime 
education and training regime to ensure that Filipino seafarers will be globally-preferred, all 
maritime education and training policies, rules, and regulations are synchronized, harmonized, 
953


progressive, innovative and aligned with the letters and spirits of the International Convention 
on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping 1978, As Amended (STCW 
Convention) and other international maritime instruments on the qualification of seafarers; and 
that quality processes in enrolment, examination and assessment, certification and employment 
in the maritime profession are seamless. 
 
CHAPTER II 
DEFINITION OF TERMS 
Section 3. Definition of terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall 
mean or be understood as follows: 
(a) 
Management Level means the level of responsibility associated with: 
1. 
serving as master, chief mate, chief engineer officer or second engineer 
officer on board a seagoing ship, and 
2. 
ensuring that all functions within the designated area of responsibility 
are properly performed. 
 
(b) 
Maritime Education and Training refers to educational and training systems 
that provide competent seafarers for merchant vessels 
 
(c) 
Modularized Curriculum refers to the principle of dividing the curriculum 
into small discrete modules or units that are independent, non-sequential, and typically 
short in duration. Students accumulate credit units for modules which can lead to the 
qualification for which a specified number of credit point is required 
 
(d) 
Operational Level means the level of responsibility associated with: 
1. 
serving as officer in charge of a navigational or engineering watch or as 
designated duty engineer for periodically unmanned machinery spaces or as 
radio operator on board a seagoing ship, and 
2. 
maintaining direct control over the performance of all functions within 
the designated area of responsibility in accordance with proper procedures and 
under the direction of an individual serving in the management level for that 
area of responsibility. 


(e) 
Shipboard Training means a planned and structured program of training 
designed to assist a prospective candidate to achieve the standard of competence in 
accordance with the table of competencies of the STCW Code. 
 
(f) 
STCW Convention refers to the International Convention on Standards of 
Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as Amended 
 
(g) 
Support Level means the level of responsibility associated with performing 
assigned tasks, duties or responsibilities on board a seagoing ship under the direction 
of an individual serving in the operational or management level. 
 
(h) 
Technical Vocational Education and Training refers to the education 
involving the study of technology-related sciences, in addition to general education, as 
well as the acquisition of practical skills relating to occupations in various sectors of 
economic life and social life, and which comprise formal (organized programs as part 
of the school system) and non-formal (organized classes outside the school system) 
approaches 
 
CHAPTER III 
MARITIME EDUCATION AND TRAINING 
Section 4. Creation of Technical Committee on Maritime Education and Training – 
A technical committee on maritime education and training, hereinafter referred to as the 
“Committee”, to be headed by the Executive Secretary and composed of MARINA, CHED, 
DEPED, PMMA, NMP, TESDA and DOLE is hereby created under the Office of the President. 
Section 5. Functions of the Committee – The committee shall prepare a “Modern 
Maritime Education and Training Regime”, hereinafter referred to as the “Regime”, in 
consultation with technical experts in maritime education and training as well as maritime 
employers, consistent with the STCW Convention and other international maritime instruments 
on the qualification of seafarers.  
 
The Regime shall include the following: 
a. 
shift from the current subject-based curricula to modularized curricula; 


b. 
use of innovative and easily accessible learning platforms, such as but not 
limited to, online learning, which will permit seamless and remote access and 
learning, whenever applicable; 
c. 
use of remote but effective assessment tools for all competencies, or 
components thereof, whenever possible; 
d. 
use of simulators and other similar equipment; 
e. 
strategic scheduling of shipboard training;  
f. 
development and implementation of a maritime strand under the Enhanced 
Basic Education Program or the K-12 program, which will cover all elective subjects 
of maritime courses; 
g. 
development and implementation of bridging programs which would allow 
seamless transition of a baccalaureate discipline or technical vocational education and 
training to maritime profession  
h. 
development and implementation of new maritime courses responsive to the 
existing and emerging needs of the maritime industry 
i. 
development and implementation of electronic training record book for all 
seafarers; and   
j. 
such other policies and features as identified by the Committee which will 
ensure that Filipino seafarers are globally-preferred 
 
Section 6. Ascendance of the Regime – All government departments, bureaus, agencies 
and instrumentalities, including private maritime education and training institutions and 
technical and vocational training centers, shall implement the Regime within their respective 
mandates. No government body or instrumentality nor any private institution of higher learning 
shall adopt any policy, rules or regulations, or take any course of action contrary to or 
inconsistent with the Regime. 
Section 7. Centralized Shipboard Training – The management of all shipboard training 
programs required to complete the requirements of a maritime course shall be centralized and 
managed by the MARINA. 
The MARINA may require convention size ships of Philippine registry to accommodate at 
least one (1) cadet each in the deck and engine departments, subject to learning, safety and 
health considerations.  
The MARINA may also enter into agreements with shipping companies operating 
convention-size merchant vessels sailing under foreign flags to ensure that all students will be 


given opportunity to avail the necessary shipboard training program. Likewise, Maritime 
Education and Training Institutions shall be allowed to enter into such agreements, subject to 
the guidelines to be prescribed by the MARINA. 
The MARINA, in consultation with shipping operators, shall prescribe a standard fee to be 
paid by the cadets for the shipboard training which will cover costs of food, lodging, hygiene 
and other expenses incurred while on board. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
Section 8. Student Financial Assistance Program for Maritime Students – Maritime 
students shall be considered in the Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAP) under 
Republic Act No. 10931, otherwise known as the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary 
Education Act. For purposes of this Act, a maritime professional shall be considered as a 
maritime student if he will enroll in competency training required to perform support level 
functions in a ship. 
 
The StuFAP shall cover any or all of the following: 
a. 
Tuition fees 
b. 
Miscellaneous and other school fees 
c. 
Educational expenses 
d. 
Cost-of-living allowance 
e. 
Cost of books and learning materials, and instruments 
f. 
Licensure examination 
g. 
Training and Assessment fees 
h. 
Certification examination 
i. 
Cost of certification 
 
 
CHAPTER V 
SEAFARERS’ UPGRADING AND PROMOTION 
 
Section 9. Qualification of Applicant for Examination for Maritime Officers – A 
baccalaureate shall not be required to qualify as applicant for examination for Marine 


Deck/Engine Officer. For this purpose, the MARINA shall formulate and prescribe the 
minimum competencies and qualifications required for the examination. 
Section 10. Seafarers’ Continuous Upgrading Program – The Committee shall 
modify and enhance existing seafarers’ upgrading programs to ensure that Filipino seafarers 
can competently perform operational and management level positions. For this purpose, the 
OWWA shall fund the costs of up to two (2) upgrading trainings per seafarer-member per year.  
To qualify for the program, the seafarer must have accumulated at least one (1) year of sea 
service experience. 
Section 11. Creation of Additional Maritime Training Facilities – To afford equal 
access to maritime education and training, additional maritime training facilities shall be 
created in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and in other areas as may be identified by the 
Committee. In the determination of additional areas, the Committee shall take into 
consideration the absence of operating training facilities in the area, the number of students 
enrolled in maritime courses, and accessibility, among others. 
 
CHAPTER V 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Section 12. Composition of the Governing Boards – The composition of the governing 
boards of State Universities and Colleges offering maritime programs is hereby amended to 
include the Administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority as Co-Chairperson. 
Section 13. Appropriations – The Executive Secretary shall include in the programs of 
all relevant government agencies and instrumentalities the operationalization of the Enhanced 
Maritime Education and Training Regime, the initial funding of which shall be charged against 
the current appropriations of the Office of the President. Thereafter, the amount necessary for 
the continued implementation of the Regime shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 
Section 14. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Maritime Education 
and Training – There is hereby created a Joint Oversight Committee to oversee, monitor and 
evaluate the implementation of this Act. The Oversight Committee shall be composed of five 
(5) members each from the Senate and from the House of Representatives. 
Section 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations – The Committee shall issue the 
necessary implementing rules and regulations in accordance with the provisions of this Act 
within ninety (90) days from the effectivity hereof.  


Section 16.  Separability Clause – If for any reason, any section, subsection, clause or 
term of this Act is held to be illegal, invalid, or unconstitutional, such parts not affected by such 
declaration shall remain in full force and effect. 
Section 17. Repealing Clause – All existing laws, orders, decrees, letters of instruction, 
rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
amended, modified, or repealed accordingly.  
Section 18. Effectivity Clause – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,