Shipping industry seeks regulatory relief

Shipping industry seeks regulatory relief
Carmel Pedroza July 31, 2026 https://businessmirror.com.ph/2026/07/31/shipping-industry-seeks-regulat...

CEBU CITY—Measures to modernize the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), amend the Domestic Shipping Development Act, strengthen the Coast Guard (PCG), and streamline maritime regulations topped the agenda of the Philippine Coastwise Shipping Association Inc. (PCSA) as lawmakers pledged to push policy reforms and increased government support for the domestic shipping industry.

During the PCSA General Membership Meeting in Cebu City on Friday, Quezon City Rep. Franz Pumaren, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, assured shipping stakeholders that Congress is pursuing a package of reforms aimed at improving maritime safety while reducing operational bottlenecks that have long burdened domestic ship operators.

Among the priority measures under deliberation are bills strengthening the PCG’s safety and environmental protection functions, creating an independent National Transportation Safety Board, amending Republic Act 9295 or the Domestic Shipping Development Act of 2004, reforming the country’s pilotage system, modernizing Marina through digitalization, improving

the Philippine ship registry, and implementing broader maritime safety reforms, including stricter seaworthiness audits and mandatory cargo weighing.

Pumaren said the proposed measures seek to strike a balance between ensuring passenger safety and maintaining a competitive domestic shipping sector.

“We will push for reforms that protect passengers, crew, cargo and communities while modernizing government agencies without creating unnecessary bureaucracy,” he said.

The legislative agenda came in response to concerns raised by PCSA Chairman Lucio Lim, who urged Congress to champion reforms that would ease regulatory burdens and improve government support for the shipping industry.

Foremost among these is addressing Marina’s manpower shortage, which Lim said has resulted in delays in vessel inspections, certification and document processing despite ships already being ready for departure.

Lim said Marina had around 1,100 personnel in 2016, and only about 1,200 employees today despite the agency’s expanded responsibilities.

Of its workforce, roughly 40 percent are job-order employees, while only 152 serve as inspectors and surveyors overseeing an estimated fleet of 24,000 vessels.

He added that the situation could become more challenging as Marina assumes additional responsibilities over maritime higher education under recent legislation.

In response, Pumaren said Congress would study increasing Marina’s budget during the upcoming budget deliberations to help address staffing deficiencies and improve inspection capabilities.

“We will look at how we can increase funding for Marina so that inspection delays and manpower shortages can be addressed,” he said.

However, former President and PCSA Chairperson Emeritus Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said automation offers a more practical long-term solution than expanding the bureaucracy.

She noted that automating clerical functions would allow Marina to deploy more personnel to inspection work while making government services more efficient.

Pumaren agreed, saying digital transformation forms part of the committee’s proposed reforms for Marina, particularly in vessel registration, crew certification, compliance monitoring and maritime safety systems.

Beyond Marina, Lim also appealed for a review of the implementation of international maritime conventions, arguing that regulations intended for international vessels are being applied to domestic shipping, driving up operating costs.

He, likewise, called on the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to provide broader fee relief similar to the measures adopted by the Cebu Port Authority, which temporarily waived passenger terminal, berthing and roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) terminal fees.

Lim said these charges account for only a small portion of the PPA’s revenues but significantly increase transport costs, particularly for inter-island shipping serving the Visayas and Mindanao.

The PCSA chairman also urged the Coast Guard to reconsider its policy requiring physical clearance for every vessel departure, saying the practice causes operational delays and creates opportunities for corruption.

He said the association has already raised the matter with PCG officials, who are considering initially applying alternative clearance procedures for cargo vessels.

Lim also pressed for renewed government attention to the Strong Republic Nautical Highway network, citing deteriorating road links to several ports over the past five years.

He noted that RoRo services have become a vital logistics backbone for e-commerce and cargo movement, allowing goods to reach Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo and Tacloban within two days and Mindanao destinations such as Cagayan de Oro and Davao in about three days.

Pumaren, for his part, emphasized that Congress views industry stakeholders as partners in crafting practical legislation.

“Good legislation cannot be crafted inside committee rooms alone. It must be informed by the operational realities you face every day,” he told PCSA members.

The committee, he added, remains committed to develop policies that improve maritime safety while supporting investment, operational efficiency and long-term growth in the country’s domestic shipping industry.