Memorandum Circular

No. ______________

Subject: Amending Memorandum Circular No. 8-7-98 Re: Guidelines in

the issuance of General Operators Certificate (GOC)

Pursuant to Act 3846 as amended, Executive Order 546 and in compliance

with Section A-IV/2, Chapter IV of STCW Code-97 which provides the
Mandatory Minimum Requirements for Certification of GMDSS Radio
Personnel, Table A-IV/2 of the same Code specifies the Minimum Standard of
Competence for GMDSS Radio Operators where the methods for
demonstrating competence are established and recognizes the use of
simulator in assessing competence and Regulation I/12 of STCW Convention
which requires the assessment to be carried out by means of simulator, the
National Telecommunications Commission hereby amends the following
provisions provided in MC 8-7-98 thereby adapting the use of simulator
equipment in conducting practical assessment, to wit:

Additional items in Section 3 are hereby added, thus:

“3.3 Registered Electronics Engineers (EE)

3.4 Graduates of BSECE and holders of 1st Class Radiotelephone

Operator are allowed to take the examination provided that he/she
must have at least one (1) year shipboard experience on board
ocean going vessel as electrician or radio electronic trainee.”

Item 4.4 of Section 4 is hereby amended to read as:

“4.4 Practical Examination on demonstration of operational procedures

of GMDSS equipment as provided in the column of competence in
Table A-IV/2 of STCW Code using approved GMDSS
communication simulation equipment: “

Section 5, to read as:

“5. Examination Requirements – an applicant for General Operator

Certificate is required to pass the theoretical and practical
examinations as follows:

5.1 For Deck Officers, Electronics Engineers and graduates of

BSECE – Elements 1, 2, 3 and Practical Examination;

5.2 For holders of 1st Class Radiotelegraph Operator Certificate, 1st

Class Radiotelephone Operators and Deck Officers who are
holders of Restricted Operators Certificate – Elements 2, 3 and
Practical Examination”
Section 6 is hereby amended to read as:

“Passing Grade - A passing average of 70% is required on theoretical

examination provided that no rating shall be below 50% in any element
and a grade of “PASSED” on Practical Examination.

6.1 An applicant shall be qualified to take the Practical Examination

only after passing the theoretical examination.

6.2 An applicant must pass the practical examination within two (2)
years from the date when he/she passed the theoretical
examination.

6.3 An applicant who passes in an examination but fails to secure a

GOC Certificate within two (2) years from the date of his/her
examination, will not be issued a certificate without taking anew the
examination.”

Guidelines and procedures in the conduct of practical examination using

GMDSS communication simulation equipment shall be issued upon approval
of this Circular.

With the above amendments, all other provisions of MC 8-7-98 remain in

force. All existing guidelines, memoranda, circulars, rules and regulations
which are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

This Circular may be revised, revoked or amended as necessary 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.

Quezon City, Philippines ___________________

RUEL V. CANOBAS
Commissioner

JORGE V. SARMIENTO JAIME M. FORTES,

JR.
Deputy Commissioner Deputy Commissioner