MANILA, PHILIPPINES – To actively promote the ease of doing business campaign of the Philippine government, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), together with the Landbank of the Philippines (LBP), signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the provision of an e-payment facility for the Agency by using the Landbank LinkBiz Portal on Thursday, 14 January 2021.

The Landbank LinkBiz portal is a web-based payment channel that allows clients from both the government and private sectors to pay for products and services via the internet. By integrating the MARINA Payment Facility, payments for MARINA-related services can now be made online.

Through a virtual ceremony, on behalf of MARINA Administrator Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad AFP (Ret), Capt. Jeffrey Solon, Officer-in-Charge of Office of the Deputy Administrator for Planning (ODAP), expressed the Agency’s appreciation to the LBP for the partnership as this can greatly help the MARINA in fulfilling its mandates for the maritime sector.

“With the eventual implementation of this memorandum of agreement, the MARINA looks forward to maximizing the use of this e-payment facility as our modest contribution to the government’s efforts for ease of doing business, and also adhere to the principles and practices of good governance,” Capt. Solon said.

For their part, Ms, Marilou L. Villafranca, Senior Vice President of the North NCR Branches Group of the LBP, extended their deepest gratitude to MARINA, under the leadership of Administrator Empedrad, for trusting Landbank in providing safe and secured cashless payment services through their LinkBiz portal facility.

“Following our MOA signing today, this e-payment facility will be made available to your clients – allowing them to settle their monetary obligations to MARINA in a faster, more secured, and convenient manner,” SVP Villafranca stated.

Both MARINA and LBP believed that this initiative is also very timely and relevant, as more and more Filipinos demand for contactless financial solutions in the new normal. The banking and maritime sector were both witnesses to how much the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the banking public to adopt digital payments.

The MOA was signed by Capt. Solon, on behalf of MARINA Administrator Empedrad, and the LBP Senior Vice-President of the North NCR Branches Group Ms. Marilou L. Villafranca. Witnessing officials include MARINA Deputy Administrator for Operations Engr. Nannette Villamor Dinopol together with LBP VP/Relationship Officer North NCRBG Cluster B, Ms. Ma. Elenita Manucom.