One of the lesser-known industries in which Filipinos dominate globally is the seafaring industry. According to this GMA News article, the Philippines accounts for 28% of the world’s shipping crew with about 250,000 officers and crew members. In a distant second is the whole Indian subcontinent which only has 100,000 people employed in the industry. Filipinos so dominate the crew members of the world’s ships that whenever a ship or tanker anywhere capsizes or is overrun by pirates, expect that Filipinos will be affected. In addition, Filipino seafarers remit about $1 billion to the country, annually. Future projections indicate that there will be a big rise in demand for seafarers and the Philippines is trying to keep up with the demand.
Among the more than 100 schools in the country that offer degrees in B.S. Marine Transportation or B.S. Marine Engineering, it is the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA), whose campus is located in San Narciso, Zambales, is I think the most reputable in the country. This 188-year-old institution was created by a Spanish Royal Decree on January 1, 1820 and was named the Escuela Nautica de Manila with its campus inside Intramuros in Manila. The American colonial government renamed it as the Nautical School of the Philippine Islands and then as the Philippine Nautical School before gaining its present name under Republic Act No. 3680 in 1963.
Photo by MPR Laurilla. (PD)
Interestingly, despite being a school that produces graduates mostly hired in the private sector, the PMMA has a military-style education reminiscent of the Philippine Military Academy. Because of this, PMMA graduates are often directly hired as ship officers in commercial vessels and are automatic reserve officers in the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard.
But all is not well in this maritime educational institution. The biggest blow to PMMA’s reputation was when it failed the Commission on Higher Education’s 2001 accreditation of the 1995 International Convention on Seafarers’ Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW ’95) (see news article). The PMMA has since undergone efforts, with the help of the alumni association, to improve the standing of the Academy.
To learn more about the PMMA and view a ton of pictures, see the Wikipedia article.
And to read more about the Filipino seafarers, read this 4-year-old PCIJ feature article.
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16 people have responsed to “Philippine Merchant Marine Academy”
Good Day to All,
I have been reading most of the comments inquiring about the PMMA. Just as a brief note, PMMA is one of 4 government service Academies in the Philippines (Philippine Military Academy, Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, Philippine National Police Academy, and Philippine Air Force Flying School). All students of these Academies mentioned are scholars and fully subsidized by the Government of the Philippines. Admission requirements are strict, and candidates must undergo several screening process before being appointed as a Midshipman. PMMA has a quasi-military structure of curriculum and training, and Midshipmen are required to live in campus during their stint in the Academy.
The PMMA offers four year residency that leads to Bachelor of Science degrees in Marine Transportation and Marine Engineering. Graduates of the Academy are Automatically commissioned as Ensigns in the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard, and Licensed as Merchant Marine officers that assures employment after graduation as Merchant Marine Officers or Naval Officers.
For more information, please visit PMMA website at www.pmma.edu.ph.
Capt. A. Romero, Master Mariner, MBA – PMMA Class’92
Director, Quality Control and Training
Bureau of Maritime Affairs
Liberian International Ship and Corporate Registry
Vienna, Virginia, USA
aromero@liscr.com
how much is the tution fee of th B.S marine transportation to your school?
please give me the complete details about PMA.thank you so much.
Hi, I am India into the business of education abroad, I get a lot of enquiries about merchant studies abroad, If you any programmes to be offered for indian students pleae reply.
Thanks,
ashwani
What are the qualifications of applicants?
Dear Sir:
I have read some profile of your school and we congratulate you being one of the best marine school in out country. I am a mother of my graduating son this March 2011 and the only one sending them to school. My son wants to enrol in your school after his graduation. In view thereof, I am interested to ask how will he apply to your school in order for my son to know what he will do after graduation.
Hope to hear from you. Pls send reply at my email ad..jtbpontino@yahoo.com or in contact me in my mobile no. +639213466209
Thank you very much.
Very truly yours,
juliet b. pontino
@ jerson:no tuition fee at PMMA, stay in so no need for board and lodging and also the food.
To PMMA-
My nephew is graduating this year. He is interested in Marine Engineering field. Your school has a very good reputation and I believe he will be a good candidate.
Please let me know of what your requirements, entrance exams, academic qualification for him to get accepted.
I look forward to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Alicia Dolan
sir, i was an ex-cadet from the Institute and is currently employed as a soldier of the PAF. i am still applying for the confirmation of my miltary services with PMMA to PAF for retirement purposes. i just want to inquire about any written AUTHORITY that Graduates of the Academy are Automatically commissioned as Ensigns in the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard, and Licensed as Merchant Marine officers that assures employment after graduation as Merchant Marine Officers or Naval Officers. as such, said authority will be very beneficial for those who were also former cadets and are currently applying for the same purpose. For utmost consideration. TEVES-2001
sir, does PMMA accept late enrollees?
I would like to enroll this coming school year but it seems that the entrance exam had already concluded last september 2010. Can I still take the exam this month?
sir, is it true that we need to pay 20k for the uniform? and another payment for medicals? not including the payment for entrance examination.. thank you sir.
i want to take an application form of the P.M.M.A
I’ll be graduating comes march 2012 and I’m interested to take the course of BSMarE. Pls inform me of the ff:
1. The entrance exam sched nd requirements.
2. Tuition fees/sem. t.y
Greetings!
My son is very much interested to enter PMMA. He will turn 16 y.o. by january 2012, and will soon be graduating from high school on march 2012. will he qualify for the PMMA Entrance examination? and when will be the scheduled entrance exam?
I Amante Tayaban is very much interested to enter PMMA. I am now 17 y.o. this coming Nov. 25 2011 and will soon be graduating from high school on march 2012. Can I know the PMMA Entrance examination? and when will be the scheduled entrance exam?
sir kailan po enrollment niyo ngayng 2012.. at magkanu po ang bayad tnxu po..plss do reply.. godbless…u po