Manila, Philippines – The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in partnership with SM Supermalls opens on Friday its third processing center in Metro Manila for its Seafarers’ Identification and Record Book (SIRB) otherwise known as the Seaman’s Book at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. The 2 other centers are located at SM City Manila and at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

MARINA Administrator Rey Leonardo B Guerrero said that the opening of the SIRB Center in SM Mall of Asia aims to bring closer government services to the people, especially to Filipino seafarers.

Guerrero who assumed his position as Administrator more than a month ago was seen furious when he discovered the long queue of seafarers applying for the issuance of their SIRBs at the SM City in Manila and immediately ordered the opening additional SIRB processing centers to mitigate the discomfort of seafarers.

Presently, the MARINA’s Office in SM City Manila can only accommodate as much as 600 applications per day for both regular and expedite processing and more than a thousand applications are received daily in Metro Manila alone.

In 2016, around 189,938 SIRBs were issued nationwide. The SIRB is an identity document issued to persons who intend to work at sea or those presently on-board ships, domestically or internationally.

The seafarers’ booklet which validity is 10 years from date of issuance is now 64 pages thick.