The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) will “aggressively pursue” the passage of bills aimed at improving the country’s ship registry and modernizing the shipbuilding and ship repair (SBSR) industry in the next Congress. The revised or “administration version” of the draft bills will be filed in the 20th Congress next year, MARINA administrator Sonia Malaluan said in a media briefing on December 19. The MARINA chief said the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office is helping the agency draft the two bills as instructed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. MARINA has requested the President to certify the bills as priority measures in the incoming Congress. A focused group discussion on the two bills was also conducted with other concerned government agencies, who all support the bills, Malaluan noted. In a press briefing last April, Malaluan said the bills are being prioritized as they will provide “more impact” to the economy and enable other programs and projects in MARINA’s Maritime Industry Development Plan 2028, a whole-of-nation roadmap for the integrated development and strategic direction of the maritime industry. Pending bills in line with MARINA’s legislative agenda include House Bill (HB) No. 4336 and Senate Bill Nos. 902 and 1564 that seek to establish a ship registry system in the Philippines; and HB 4335 and HB 8374 proposing the Shipbuilding Development Act. All are stuck at the committee level.

LINK: https://seafarertimes.com/2020-21/node/9218