Provides legal service/advice to the MARINA Board of Directors, the Executive Committee (EXECOM), the Administrator, the Deputy Administrators and the various organizational Units of the Authority;
Reviews and recommends for consideration of the Administrator actions deemed appropriate relating to or having a bearing on the legal aspects of maritime policies, rules, regulations, plans, programs and projects approved by the MARINA Board;
Conducts continuing legal researches/studies and recommends input which shall serve as bases of the appropriate Unit/s of the Authority in the formulation, development, update and implementation of plans, programs, projects, policies, rules and regulations covering the different maritime industry sectors;
Prepares/ reviews legislative proposals/appropriate bills, executive orders and other issuances necessary to implement plans, programs, projects and policies on maritime matters, including the preparation of position papers relative to the proposed legislations/bills and represents the Authority in public hearing/s and deliberation/s thereof;
Studies/evaluates/reviews IMO and other international maritime laws, conventions, codes, resolutions, rules and regulations which may affect the Authority’s mandates/functions and recommends appropriate action towards the ratification of said conventions and/or eventual adoption of national regulations implementing such, in collaboration with the Overseas Shipping Service (OSS) and other relevant Units of the Authority;
Provides legal assistance/advice in the formulation, promulgation, interpretation and implementation of policies, rules and regulations governing the internal operations and activities of the Authority;
Renders legal opinions sought by the different Units of the Authority on matters/issues arising from or relating to the discharge of their respective regulatory/supervisory functions and compiles the same for future reference;
Prosecutes all violations of the rules and regulations of the MARINA, and coordinate with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) for proper representation on decisions of the Authority which are appealed to the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court;
Coordinates with the Office of the OSG for proper representation, in all litigations and/or actions whether in judicial, quasi-judicial or administrative proceedings to protect the rights and interests of the Authority on its officials and employees in the performance of their duties;
Prepares reviews and evaluates agreements, contracts and other legal instruments to which the Authority is a party, or which may affect the Authority;
Hears, adjudicates, reviews and prepares resolutions/Decisions relative to all violations committed by ship owners/operators and other maritime enterprises/entities of maritime and water transportation laws;
Hears, adjudicates, reviews and prepares resolutions/Decisions relative to administrative cases against erring employees of the Authority and/or conducts administrative investigations, as may be assigned by higher authorities;
Represents the Authority in international conferences, meetings and negotiations, as may be assigned by higher authorities;
Acts as MARINA Board Secretary and collaborates with the MARINA board or Directors/EXECOM on the scheduling of the meetings of the MARINA Board and the EXECOM, including supervision of the necessary technical/legal assistance/secretariat staff and to ensure that (a) the Board/EXECOM agenda is prepared, finalized and properly disseminated; (b) transcription of Board/EXECOM proceedings and discussion are accurate; (c) all pertinent Board/EXECOM records and documents are properly and safely kept; (d) all approved resolutions are duly certified; and (e) the necessary linkage between the MARINA Board of Directors, the EXECOM and Management is provided, among others;
Identifies external/internal information that will serve as inputs to the discharge of functions relating to the administrative violation of existing policies, rules and regulations by shipowners and other maritime enterprises/entities, rendition of legal opinions on matters/issues arising from or relating to the regulatory/supervisory functions of the various Units of the Authority and other related functions, in coordination with appropriate units of the Authority, private sector and relevant government agencies;
Conducts or participates in the conduct of public consultation in coordination with other MARINA Units, relevant government agencies, private sectors associations and other entities involved in the different maritime industry sector operations regarding issues, problems, complaints, concerns on the provision of services, proposed laws, programs, policies, rules, regulations and guidelines and in relation to the briefing/orientation on newly approved issuances and performs evaluation/assessment on matters requiring MARINA intervention in order to continually improve the services being provided;
Recommends the development and maintenance of databases and monitoring systems that will facilitate the discharge of functions relating to the administrative violation of existing policies, rules and regulations by shipowners, and other maritime enterprises/entities, rendition of legal opinions on matters/issues arising from or relating to the regulatory/supervisory functions of the various Units of the Authority and other related functions, in coordination with the MISS;
Prepares response/reply to inquiries relating to the Authority’s existing laws/mandates, plans, programs, projects, policies, rules and regulations and other maritime-related legal matters/issues; and,Perform such other functions as may be assigned by higher authorities.
