WHEREAS, the 1978 Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention for Seafarers as amended in 1995 has come into effect on 01 February 1997;

WHEREAS, being a Party to the said Convention, the Philippines has its obligations to promulgate laws, decrees, orders and regulations; and to take all other steps that may be necessary to give full and complete effect to the Convention;

WHEREAS, under the 1995 Amendments to the STCW-78 Convention, there are existing issues and problems in the implementation of the Basic Safety Courses (BSCs) in the light of the imposition of the Personal Safety and Social Responsibility Course.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the above premises, be it resolved as it hereby resolve, that the following policies be adopted:

1. Unless otherwise required by their employers, all Filipino seafarers who have taken the 3 Basic Safety Courses (BSCs) with valid certificate under the STCW-78 Convention are given until 01 February 2002 to take the Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (PSSR) Course. Hence seafarers under this category may hold two (2) certificates for the 4 BSCs.
   
   
2. The 4 Basic Safety Courses required under the STCW-78 Convention as amended which comprises the Personal Survival Technique, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid and Personal Safety and Social Responsibility shall be made mandatory to all new entrant-seafarers as prerequisite to their shipboard employment. Seafarers under this category shall take the 4 BSCs in one training center as a package course so that only one training certificate shall be issued for the 4 Basic Safety Courses.
   
   
3. Training Centers offering the 3 BSCs under the 1978 STCW Convention shall endeavor be accredited to offer the 4 courses within the current year. Otherwise, their existing permits shall not be renewed.
   
   
4. Training Centers currently authorized to offer PSSR only, shall be allowed to renew their permits only up to December 31, 1998. No new permits will be issued to offer PSSR only.
   
   
5. Accreditation of the 4 BSCs shall be integrated under one training permit with a single expiration date. Hence, training centers currently offering PSSR with different expiry date from the 3 BSCs shall, upon renewal, be synchronized with the latest expiration date or new permit of the 3 BSCs.

Adopted: 07 April 1998

(SGD.) CRESENCIANO B. TRAJANO
Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment
and Chairman, Maritime Training Council

(SGD.) ANGEL C. ALCALA
Commissioner, Commission on Higher Education

(SGD.) HERMOGENES P. POBRE
Chairman, Professional Regulation Commission

(SGD.) PIO H. GARRIDO, JR.
Administrator, Maritime Industry Authority

(SGD.) VIRGINIA D.G. SON
Officer-in-Charge, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration

(SGD.) FELICISIMO O. JOSON, JR.
Administrator, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration

(SGD.) MANUEL I. DE LEON
Commandant, Philippine Coast Guard

(SGD.) VICENTE F. ALDANESE
Private Sector Representative

(SGD.) GREGORIO S. OCA
AMOSUP

Attested to:

(SGD.) RAMON T. TIONLOC, JR.
Acting Executive Officer