THE Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) are stepping up efforts to simplify regulations and reduce processing times for ship building and ship repair (SBSR) businesses as part of a broader push to strengthen the competitiveness of the Philippine maritime industry.
The two agencies reaffirmed their commitment to regulatory reforms during a meeting led by MARINA Officer-in-Charge Administrator Rear Admiral Loumer Bernabe, PN (Ret), and ARTA Undersecretary Lea-Grace Salcedo.
Discussions focused on improving government transactions, eliminating unnecessary regulatory requirements, and ensuring the continuity of reforms under MARINA’s new leadership.
“The government should continuously find ways to ease the processing of regulatory applications,” Bernabe explained, emphasizing the importance of efficient public services in supporting maritime businesses.
Through its Shipyards Regulation Service (SRS), MARINA is working with ARTA to review existing policies and identify procedures that can be simplified or digitized to accelerate the processing of industry applications.
The proposed reforms seek to create a more transparent and business-friendly regulatory environment that can attract investments, encourage industry expansion, and strengthen the country’s SBSR capabilities.
Both agencies also aim to ensure that faster regulatory processes do not compromise maritime safety, construction quality, and environmental protection standards.
The initiative aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize maritime industry development under the Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP) 2028, adopted through Executive Order No. 55 in 2024.
It also supports the administration’s broader campaign against bureaucratic red tape and Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon’s efforts to improve efficiency and service delivery across the transport sector.
The partnership between MARINA and ARTA dates back to November 2024, following discussions initiated by the Royal Danish Embassy on improving the Philippines’ competitiveness in the global SBSR market.
Those discussions led to a multi-agency collaboration involving ARTA, the Danish Embassy, the DOTr, and MARINA to address regulatory challenges affecting the industry.
With the latest discussions, the agencies are seeking to advance reforms that would make government transactions faster and more predictable for shipyard operators, while positioning the Philippines as a more competitive destination for shipbuilding and ship repair investments.