WHEREAS, Article VI of the STCW Convention requires that Certificates for Masters, Officers and Ratings shall be issued to the candidates who, to the satisfaction of the Administration, meet the requirements of service, age, medical fitness, training, qualification in accordance with appropriate provisions of the annex thereto, and the Certificates of Masters and Officers shall be endorsed by the issuing Administration.

WHEREAS, the Boards of Marine Deck and Engineer Officers issue the Certificate of Competency and the Commission issues the corresponding Endorsement Certificate.

WHEREAS, Section 1 of Executive Order (EO) No. 242, series of 2000, also known as œHarmonizing the Institutional Framework in the Administration of the International Convention on the Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended,  provides that the Maritime Training Council (MTC) shall be responsible in giving full and complete effect to the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended.

WHEREAS, there is a need to adopt a standard format for STCW ™95 Certificates issued by this Commission, the National Telecommunications Commission, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Secretariat of the MTC, and their corresponding Endorsement Certificate to be signed by the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), as Chairman of the MTC, the agency recognized by the International Maritime Organization to be responsible in giving full and complete effect to the revised STCW Convention.

WHEREAS, there is likewise a need for the STCW Certificates of Competency issued by the four aforementioned member-agencies to be endorsed by the MTC to manifest its full control over the Philippines ™ Certification system for seafarers under the single agency concept in the administration of the STCW Convention in accordance with the National Quality Standards System.

WHEREFORE, the Boards RESOLVE to amend the format of the STCW ™95 Certificates pursuant to the directive of the MTC and that the signatory of the Endorsement Certificate shall be the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment, as Chairman of the MTC.

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 January 1, 2010.

BOARD FOR MARINE DECK OFFICERS

(SGD.) JAIME D. AQUINO
  Vice-Chairman

BOARD FOR MARINE ENGINEER OFFICERS

(SGD.) JOSE G. ABUGAN
  Chairman

(SGD.) MIGUEL O. MARASIGAN
Vice-Chairman

(SGD.) ELDEFONSO G. UBA
  Member

ATTESTED BY:

(SGD.) ATTY. ARISTOGERSON T. GESMUNDO
  Assistant Commissioner

APPROVED BY:

(SGD.) NICOLAS P. LAPE A, JR.
  Chairman