MANILA, Philippines (10 June 2019)- Captain Joel Y Abutal MM, newly appointed superintendent of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA), paid a courtesy visit to Admiral Elson E Hermogino, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant on June 10 at the PCG national headquarters in Manila.

Accompanied by Captain Vivien Jane Cay PCG, Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for Education and Training, CG-12, Captain Abutal and Admiral Hermogino discussed the PMMA’s proposal to the PCG to utilize the academy’s assets which includes simulator training, welding, and lathe machine operations among others for technical training of Coast Guard personnel as the PCG is expecting the arrival of its large patrol vessels.

The PMMA also offered some of its vacant space for possible establishment of PCG detachment at PMMA for search and rescue, marine environmental protection, maritime security operations of the PCG.

The PCG and PMMA discussed the solutions addressing the issues and concerns surrounding the PCG-PMMA Cadetship program. Likewise, the details of the upcoming 196th PMMA Commencement Exercise were also discussed wherein three PCG-sponsored cadets will be graduating this year finishing the course of Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation and Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering.

At the end of the visit, Capt Abutal assured the PCG that the PMMA will fully support its endeavors of mutual concerns.