Maritime regulator seeking Budget dep’t approval to triple staffing levels

Maritime regulator seeking Budget dep’t approval to triple staffing levels
Ashley Erika O. Jose March 31, 2024 https://www.bworldonline.com/economy/2024/03/31/584810/maritime-regulato...

THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) is seeking the approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to expand its staffing by 2,000 from the current 1,000.

“We have forwarded this to the DBM, we presented to them our structured and proposed plan. I gave them a timeline, if this will not be approved by the DBM maybe we will include this proposal to the comprehensive Marina bill,” Sonia B. Malaluan, Marina administrator, said on the sidelines of a briefing on Tuesday.

Ms. Malaluan said the expansion will be driven by the agency’s plan to establish extension offices.

“If the DBM cannot approve this, maybe we need a law as well. But I am giving it time, if by next year they cannot act on this then we can move to a law to provide these,” Ms. Malaluan said.

Marina is also seeking the passage of the Comprehensive Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Development Bill, which will promote investment and ensure the development of a viable shipbuilding and repair industry.

“The expansion to regions, the strengthening of our regional offices (aims) to provide services closer to our clients and stakeholders. We want to have extension offices,” she said.

Ms. Malaluan said under this proposal, Marina’s central office in Metro Manila will focus on policy, promotion, and developmental projects.

“We are still in the process of an organizational structure plan. We submitted one to DBM in 2021, and it was returned in 2022,” Ms. Malaluan said.