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Whereas, pursuant to Executive Order 546 and Act 3846, as amended, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is mandated to supervise the examination and licensing of all Radio Operators;

Whereas, the Philippines, as a Party to the Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention is mandated to promulgate and implement laws, decrees, orders and regulations and to take all other steps that are necessary to give effect and operationalize the purposes of the STCW Convention and thus ensure that all seafarers on board ships are qualified and fit for their duties;

Whereas, the Commission supervises and oversees the conduct of examination for the issuance of Certificate of Competency for General Operator Certificate (GOC), a certificate required under the STCW Convention which authorizes the holder thereof to operate a Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) radio communication system;

Whereas, Table A-IV/2 of the STCW Code provides for the specifications of the minimum standard of competence for GMDSS radio operators for radio communications;

Whereas, the same Code also provides that the methods for demonstrating competence for examination and assessment can be obtained from practical demonstration of operational procedures using approved equipment, GMDSS communication simulator and radiocommunication laboratory equipment;

Whereas, NTC Memorandum Circulars (MCs) 13-11-91 and its subsequent issuances, MC 8-7-98 and MC 17-10-98 provides for the guidelines in the conduct of examination and issuance of GOC;

Whereas, the present examination system neither includes nor provides for a practical examination as mandated by the STCW Code;

Wherefore, in compliance with the STCW Convention, this Commission, by virtue of the powers vested upon it by law, hereby promulgates the following guidelines in the issuance of Certificates of Competency for GOC:

1. General Qualifications of Applicant

1.1 The following, provided, that they have attended and completed a training course on GOC for GMDSS conducted by an NTC accredited Radio Training Center, are qualified to take the GOC examination:

1.1.1    A licensed Deck Officer;
1.1.2    A holder of a valid 1^st Class Radiotelegraph Operator Certificate;
1.1.3    Electrical Engineers/Electronic Engineers;
1.1.4    Graduates of the following course/s defined below:

• Electrical Engineering
• Electronics Engineering
• Information Technology (IT)
• Electronics Technician
• Graduates of Medical Course

1.2 Applicants mentioned under item 1.1.4 are required to submit a certification issued by the employer stating that the nature of work of the applicant is relevant to the operation of GMDSS equipment or that the applicant have rendered at least six (6) months of service on board a vessel.

1.3 Non-Filipino applicants shall be subject to the provisions of the Bilateral Agreement entered into by the Philippine Government and the Country of citizenship of the applicant.

2. Competency Requirement

The competency requirement provided for in Table A/IV-2 of the STCW Code and its future amendments are hereby adopted and forms an integral part of this Circular as Annex-A hereof.

3. Examination Elements

The examination for Certificate of Competency for GOC shall comprise of the following:

3.1 Theoretical Examination

3.1.1 Element 1 (radiotelephony) – Theory and practice in the operation of VHF radiotelephony and equipment required in sea area A1;

3.1.2 Element 2 (Inmarsat) – Theory and practice in the operation of INMARSAT terminal, component and sub-systems; and

3.1.3 Element 3 (GMDSS) – Theory and practice in the operation and control of GMDSS sub-systems and equipment.

3.2 Practical Examination/Assessment – demonstration of operational procedures to be carried out efficiently and effectively using GMDSS communication simulator based on Table A-IV/2 of STCW Code.

The guidelines and procedures in the implementation of practical examination using GMDSS communication simulation equipment shall be issued upon approval of this Circular. The guidelines and procedures shall include, but shall not be limited to the following:

a. Accreditation of Assessment Center/s;
b. Minimum Standards and Specification of GMDSS communication simulation and assessment system;
c. Imposition of fees; and
d. Submission of report

4. Examination requirements

4.1 An applicant for GOC shall be required to pass the theoretical and practical examinations provided for in Section 3 of this Circular.
4.2 Holders of 1^st  Class Radiotelegraph, 1^st  Class Radiotelephone or Restricted Operator Certificate (ROC-Ship) are exempt from taking the examinations for Element 1.

5. Passing Grade

5.1 A passing average of at least 70% is required for the theoretical examination, provided, that no grade shall be below 50% in any element.

5.2 A grade of “PASSED” for practical examination is required.

5.3 An examinee that fails either the theoretical or practical examination may be given a chance to complete the remaining examination requirements within a period of two (2) years from the date of his/her examination.

6. Issuance of Certificate of Competency

6.1 New Certificate – An examinee who has passed both the theoretical and practical examinations shall be issued a Certificate of Competency for a period not exceeding five (5) years from the date of issuance thereof.

An examinee who has passed both the theoretical and practical examinations but fails to secure the GOC Certificate of Competency within two (2) years from the date of his last examination will not be issued a Certificate without taking the examination all over again.

6.2 Revalidation of Certificate

6.2.1 For Deck Officers – the application for revalidation or renewal of Certificate of Competency shall be issued for a period not exceeding five (5) years from the date of issuance thereof, provided that he/she shall present a Certificate of Employment (sea service or copy of Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book) stating that he/she is performing functions appropriate to the license held, for a period of at least one (1) year in total for the preceding five (5) years.

6.2.2 For non-Deck Officers – the application for revalidation or renewal of Certificate of Competency shall be issued for a period not exceeding five (5) years from the date of issuance thereof, provided that he/she shall present a Certificate of Employment issued by the employer that he/she is performing functions appropriate to GOC Certificate for a period of at least one (1) year in total for the preceding five (5) years.

6.2.3 Applicant for revalidation or renewal of Certificate of Competency who fails to satisfy the requirements provided for in 6.2.1 and 6.2.2 above, shall be required to attend a refresher course and take a re-examination for practical assessment.

Applicants for the issuance of Certificate of Competency for GOC must be medically fit and must have good eyesight and hearing. A valid medical Certificate using the Department of Health (DOH) approved seafarers pre-employment medical form must be submitted together with the application for issuance of Certificate of Competency.

7. Penal Provisions

7.1 Submission of fraudulent documents in the application for examination shall be penalized as follows:

1^st offense – Php2,000 and no examination for at least one year
2^nd  offense – Php2,000 and shall be barred from taking examination

7.2 For possession of fraudulent Certificate of Competency:

1^st offense – Php2,000 and no examination for at least three years
2^nd  offense – Php2,000 and shall be barred from taking examination.

All existing guidelines, memoranda, circulars, rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed accordingly.

This Circular may be revised, revoked or amended as necessary in accordance with law and shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation, provided further, that at least three (3) copies hereof shall have been filed with the University of the Philippines (UP) Law Center.

Adopted: 22 Dec. 2009

(SGD.) GAMALIEL A. CORDOBA
Commissioner

(SGD.) JAIME M. FORTES, JR.         Deputy Commissioner

(SGD.) DOUGLAS MICHAEL N. MALILLIN         Deputy Commissioner

                                                                                

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Competence		Knowledge, understanding and proficiency
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Transmit and receive information using GMDSS subsystems and equipment and fulfilling the functional requirements of GMDSS		a. search and rescue radio-communications, including procedures in the IMO Merchant Ship Search and Rescue Manual (MERSAR)
		b. the means to prevent the transmission of false distress alerts and the procedures to mitigate the effects of such alerts.
		c. ship reporting systems
		d. radio medical services
		e. use of the International Code of Signals and the Standard Marine Navigational Vocabulary as replaced by the Standard Marine Communication Phrases
		f. the English language, both written and spoken, for the communication of information relevant to the safety of life at sea
Provide radio services in emergencies		a. abandon ship
		b. fire on board ship
		c. partial or full breakdown of radio installations
		Preventive measures for the safety of ship and personnel in connection with hazards related to radio equipment, including electrical and non- ionizing radiation hazards