Pursuant to Act 3846, as amended, EO 546, MC 3-12-2001, MC 8-7-98, MC 10-7-98 and to the provisions of Regulation 1/9 and 1/11 of the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended in 1995, the following additional guidelines are hereby established for the issuance of GMDSS Certificates of marine radio personnel.

1. All applicants for the issuance of GMDSS Certificates must be medically fit and should be with good eyesight and hearing.  A medical certificate using the DOH approved seafarers pre-employment medical form must be submitted together with the application for issuance of GMDSS Certificates.

2. The DOH accredited medical clinic or hospital must have a Quality Standards System (QSS) in place in accordance with Section A-1/8 of the 1995 STCW Code.

3. The Radio Operators and Training School Division shall make available a list of accredited DOH medical clinics or hospitals.

This circular shall take effect immediately and may be revised, revoked or amended in accordance with law and shall take effect fifteen days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation, provided further, that at least three (3) copies thereof shall be filed with the UP Law Center.
   
 

	(SGD.) RONALD OLIVAR SOLIS
	Commissioner
(SGD.) KATHLEEN N. HECETA		(SGD.) JORGE V. SARMIENTO
Deputy Commissioner		Deputy Commissioner