MARINA Chief Sonia B Malaluan paid a courtesy visit on Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez yesterday, 23 February 2024 to pursue collaboration in the promotion of maritime industry interests with the City Government.

Noting the booming economic activities in the City, Administrator Malaluan highlighted the proximity of Ormoc City with Cebu City where travel time by water is only more than 2 hours.

The MARINA sought the City Government’s support for the Agency’s presence and visibility to provide the needed frontline services through the formal establishment of an Extension Office in the City. Both agreed to review and renew the usufruct agreement for the donation of lot where the envisioned area for the construction of the MARINA Extension Office in Ormoc City that was formalized in 2018. Administrator Malaluan expressed her sincerest appreciation to Mayor Gomez over this development.

Administrator Malaluan likewise conveyed City Mayor Gomez that the City Government will play a vital role to provide impetus for further economic growth in the area through the recent issuance of Executive Order No. 55 (2024) which adopted the Ten- Year Maritime Industry Development Plan 2028.

At present, Ormoc City and nearby areas are served with around 878 ships and small boats ply Ormoc City and Cebu City route and vice-versa and two (2) shipyard and ship repair facilities. There are likewise more than 7,000 registered seafarers in the City and nearby areas served by the said MARINA Satellite Office.

The MARINA Ormoc Satellite Office operates to cover the areas of Western Leyte and Biliran. Its Area of Responsibility (AOR) includes: Ormoc City, Albuera, Merida, Tabango, Palompon, Villaba, Isabel, Calubian and Biliran.

Accompanying the Administrator are Engr Ramon C Hernandez, Chief of Staff and Director II, Shipyard Regulations Service, Mr Luisito U delos Santos, Director II, Planning and Policy Service and Atty Eusebia Cadlum-Boco, MARINA Regional Director for the Eastern Visayas Region.

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