A bill filed in the House of Representatives seeks to convert the Maritime Industry Authority (satellite office in Guiuan, Eastern Samar into a regular extension office to make maritime services more accessible to residents of the province and nearby island communities.
House Bill No. 8698 proposes to upgrade the existing MARINA satellite office into a full-fledged extension office that can better serve seafarers, boat operators, shipping stakeholders and coastal communities that depend on the maritime sector for livelihood and transportation.
The measure aims to strengthen MARINA’s presence in Eastern Samar, where many residents rely on fishing, inter-island transport, shipping and seafaring for employment and economic activity.
“This measure is about making government services more accessible and responsive to the realities faced by our coastal communities,” Eastern Samar Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales remarked.
The proposed upgrade is expected to reduce the need for residents to travel long distances to process maritime documents, comply with regulatory requirements and secure other services from the agency.
Among the services that may be expanded are vessel registration and documentation, maritime safety monitoring, issuance of Seafarer Record Books and Seafarer Identity Documents, and processing of Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping credentials.
The bill also seeks to improve government support for local shipping operators and maritime workers while enhancing maritime safety in the province.
Supporters of the measure said a stronger MARINA office in Guiuan would help bring essential services closer to coastal communities and reduce processing time, travel costs and inconvenience for maritime workers and stakeholders.