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WHEREAS, Section 10 of Republic Act No. 8544, otherwise known as the “Philippine Merchant Marine Officers Act of 1998”, provides for the powers and duties of the Boards for Marine Deck Officers and Marine Engineer Officers (Boards).

WHEREAS, Section 10(g) of Republic Act No. 8544 provides that the Boards shall look into the conditions affecting the practice of the Maritime Profession and whenever necessary, adopt such measures as may be deemed proper for the enhancement and maintenance of high professional and ethical standards of the profession.

WHEREAS, the Boards are empowered to promulgate and adopt rules and regulations necessary for carrying out the provisions of Republic Act No. 8544 pursuant to Section 10(a) thereof.

WHEREAS, the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended, and the STCW Code grouped merchant marine officers into two (2) levels, namely, the Operational Level and the Management Level Officers.

WHEREAS, the Management Level Officers is comprised of the Chief Mate and Master Mariner for the Deck Department and the Second Engineer Officer and Chief Engineer Officer for the Engine Department.

WHEREAS, the standards of competence, the tasks, duties and responsibilities, and the level of knowledge of the subjects under the STCW Code which is required of every candidate for certification as Chief Mate is similar with that of a Master Mariner. Likewise, the standards of competence, the tasks, duties and responsibilities, and the level of knowledge of the subjects under the STCW Code which is required of every candidate for certification as Second Engineer Officer is similar with that of a Chief Engineer Officer.

WHEREAS, the Boards deem it wise that a single licensure examination for the Management Level officers is a positive and a proactive solution to the global shortage of officers in the Management Level.

WHEREAS, other parties to the revised STCW Convention, such as India, United States of America, Australia, and United Kingdom, among others, have adopted and implemented a single licensure examination for the Management Level Officers.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Boards RESOLVE, as it is hereby RESOLVED, to adopt a single licensure examination for the Marine Deck Officers and Marine Engineer Officers in the Management Level.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the licensure examination for the Management Level of Marine Deck Officers shall be the Chief Mate licensure examination and the Second Engineer Officer licensure examination shall be the licensure examination for the Management Level of Marine Engineer Officers.

RESOLVED FINALLY, that subject to the guidelines to be issued by the Boards, a registered/licensed Chief Mate who has completed at least twenty four (24) months of approved seagoing service as Chief Mate on boardship of 500 gross tonnage or more shall, upon application, payment of the required fee and approval by the Board, be upgraded and issued the Certificate of Registration/License as Master Mariner. Likewise, a registered/licensed Second Engineer Officer who has completed at least twenty four (24) months of approved seagoing service as Second Engineer Officer on board ship powered by main propulsion machinery of 750Kw propulsion power or more shall, upon application, payment of the required fee and approval by the Board, be upgraded and issued the Certificate of Registration/License as Chief Engineer Officer.

Let a copy of this Resolution be published in the Official Gazette and furnished the U.P. Law Center.

This Resolution supersedes any previous issuance to the contrary and shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 24 July 2008

BOARD FOR MARINE DECK OFFICERS
(SGD.) JAIME D. AQUINO Vice-Chairman
(SGD.) IRENEO U. DELOS SANTOS Member	(SGD.) MIKE L. CASTRO Member
BOARD FOR MARINE ENGINEER OFFICERS
(SGD.) JOSE G. ABUGAN Chairman
(SGD.) MIGUEL O. MARASIGAN Vice-Chairman
(SGD.) VICTORIANO A. ALOJADO Member	(SGD.) FERDINAND R. PASCUA Member
(SGD.) ELDEFONSO G. UBA Member
Attested by:
(SGD.) ATTY. CARLOS G. ALMELOR Secretary, Professional Regulatory Boards
Approved by:
(SGD.) LEONOR TRIPON-ROSERO Secretary
(SGD.) RUTH RAÑA PADILLA Commissioner	(SGD.) NILO L. ROSAS Commissioner