Whereas, pursuant to Act 3846, Executive Order 546 and this Commission ™s (NTC) Memorandum Circular (MC) 16-89A, the Commission issues and grants a Special Radio Operator Permit for Fishing Vessels (SROP-FV) authorizing the holder thereof to carry out radiotelephone service of a duly licensed VHF radio station, onboard a fishing vessel in the Philippines, with a power of not more than 25 watts using F3E emission;

Whereas, there are other maritime services/facilities here in the Philippines and abroad that are equipped with short range (VHF) radios under the maritime mobile services, i.e, onboard-ship communications, small scale fishing boats, bay and river operations, offshore industry, oil rigs and port operations wherein the personnel incharge of operation is required to undergo training and that he/she must possess a government certification as a qualified radio operator;

Whereas, the Commission recognizes the need of these personnel to comply with said Radio Regulations to meet and satisfy the requirements of their local/international employers;

Wherefore, premises considered, MC 16-89A is hereby amended as follows:

1. SROP-FV is hereby renamed as Special Radio Operators Permit (SROP), deleting the character œFV  which specifically refers to the Fishing Vessel category in the maritime service. The new SROP shall authorize the holder to carry out radiotelephone service of any duly licensed VHF radio station in the maritime band regardless of category/nature of service, provided however, that the radio equipment shall not exceed 25 watts power output.
   
   
2. NTC accredited Maritime Radio Training Centers offering GMDSS radio-communication courses shall be allowed to conduct the training. All training Centers shall however be required to secure the Commission ™s permission in writing to offer the course and said Training Centers shall issue a standard format of certification to all trainees who have successfully completed the training, which in turn shall serve as the basis for NTC certification.
   
   
3. Training Course Title/Areas of Study - the training program shall be named as VHF Radio Communication Course (VHF-RCC), a one day training course which shall cover the study of the following:
   
   
1. Local/International Maritime Radio Regulations;
   
   
2. VHF Radio Systems:
   - types of VHF radio equipment
   - operation of VHF Radio Equipment, parts and functions
   
   
3. Communication/Traffic Handling Procedure:
   - methods of calling
   - monitoring/relaying of distress signal
   - prevention of interference
   - ship to ship communications
   - on-board/on-scene communications
   
   
4. Practical Training
   
   
4. A regular report of graduates shall be submitted by all the accredited radio training centers to the NTC.

This Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days upon publication in a newspaper of general circulation and three (3) copies deposited with the University of the Philippines (UP) Law Center and supersedes any order, circular, instruction or memorandum or any part thereof which is inconsistent herewith.

Adopted: 22 Dec. 2009

(SGD.) GAMALIEL A. CORDOBA
Commissioner

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

(SGD.) DOUGLAS MICHAEL N. MALILLIN         Deputy Commissioner