MANILA, PHILIPPINES – For the first time since its foundation on June 1974, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has welcomed the blessing of its newly-constructed central office building located at Bonifacio Drive corner 20th Street, Port Area, Manila today, 14 December 2018.

The 12,000-square meter 12-storey building with an actual cost of P 382 million was constructed with assistance from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and ANGKLA Partylist. Construction took place from 2015 to 2018 due to space programming to accommodate adjustments on manpower complement for the enhancement of the Agency’s organizational structure.

The blessing of the building is graced by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade. OIC Undersecretary for Maritime Fernando Juan Perez, ANGKLA Partylist Rep. Jesulito Manalo, MARINA Officer-in-Charge Vice Admiral Narciso Vingson Jr, and Deputy Administrator for Operations Nanette-Villamor Dinopol.

Partial operations in the newly-constructed building will commence early next year. Full operation is expected to occur before 2019 ends. The MARINA – Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Office and the MARINA – Manpower Development Service (MDS) will be the last to move in to reduce possible disruption in the delivery of public service to seafarers such as the issuance of exam permits and necessary certificates.

The MARINA Central Office is currently composed of 1,817 manpower complement, running 18 service units which include the: Domestic Shipping Service (DSS), Overseas Shipping Service (OSS), Shipyards Regulation Service (SRS), Manpower Development Service (MDS), Maritime Safety Service (MSS), Enforcement Service (ES), Franchising Service (FS), Planning and Policy Service (PPS), Strategic Communications Service (SCS), Management Information Systems Service (MISS), Legal Service (LS), Human Resource Management and Development Division (HRMDD), Management, Financial, and Administrative Service (MFAS), Records Section (RS), Budget Division (BD), Accounting Division (AD), Cash Section (CS), and General Services Division (GSD).

The construction of MARINA central office building in Manila and MARINA regional office buildings inside government service centers across the country such as in Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Legazpi are intended to provide convenience to maritime stakeholders through more effective and more efficient delivery of services and to promote maritime industry development through better information dissemination and collaboration of efforts among maritime industry partners.

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