MANILA – The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) held a five-day workshop focused on aligning the agency’s practices with the Data Privacy Act of 2012, or Republic Act No. 10173. Conducted from 21-25 October 2024, the workshop underscored MARINA’s commitment to safeguarding personal information and promoting a responsible, privacy-conscious culture within the maritime sector.
Facilitated by Data Privacy Consultant Dr. Rolando R. Lansigan, the sessions were designed to familiarize key MARINA personnel with the complexities and critical importance of data privacy. Dr. Lansigan’s lectures provided participants with a deep understanding of data privacy fundamentals, covering legal frameworks, risk management, and MARINA’s responsibilities to protect personal information.
Aside from lectures, participants engaged in writeshop to collaboratively draft a comprehensive data privacy manual, outlining policies and procedures to standardize data privacy practices within the MARINA. This writeshop enabled the Agency’s key personnel to draft critical elements for privacy protocols and practical guidelines, essential for compliance and operational efficiency. Case presentations and examinations were also part of the workshop, allowing participants to apply learned concepts to real-life scenarios.
In his remarks, MARINA Management Information Systems Service (MISS) Director Dr. Joseph Victor Generato expressed confidence that the agency’s efforts in this training would yield positive results, viewing the workshop as the beginning of MARINA’s ongoing journey toward full and sustained compliance. He assured that Dr. Lansigan’s valuable suggestions, along with his support in MARINA’s registration with the National Privacy Commission (NPC), would be put into action.
“The Data Privacy Act has transformed our approach to managing information. It is up to us to ensure that these changes result in a safer and more privacy-conscious MARINA,” Director Generato emphasized.
The workshop marked an essential step in the MARINA’s ongoing efforts to meet global privacy standards, mitigate data risks, and foster a culture of responsibility within the organization. Through the program, the MARINA aims to build public trust, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure that data privacy remains one of its top priorities.
View photos here