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The Maritime Industry Authority will issue an updated schedule of its fees and charges by early 2026
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Some rates such as those relating to seafarers will be unchanged
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Some rates will increase by 30%
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Among the 622 fees and charges in the schedule, 250 will remain the same while 372 items will increase, with a 30% hike cap
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The approved memorandum circular on the new rates is still undergoing legal scrubbing
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MARINA is also preparing to increase penalties for maritime offenses to promote compliance
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) will be issuing an updated schedule of its fees and charges, maintaining some rates while increasing some by 30%, according to MARINA administrator Sonia Malaluan.
The MARINA Board last November 20 approved the new memorandum circular (MC) on the omnibus fees and charges of MARINA, updating its existing schedule under MC 2015-05 that was issued in 2015 or 10 years ago, Malaluan said in a press conference on December 16.
The approved MC is still undergoing legal scrubbing and will be published in January 2026, taking effect 15 days after publication, she added.
In a presentation during the press conference, MARINA Financial and Administrative Service director Marivic Ramos said the new MC establishes a unified and comprehensive fee schedule for all of the agency’s services and regulatory processes.
Among the 622 fees and charges in the schedule, 42 that are seafarer-related will remain the same as the existing rates. Another 208 fees and charges will remain the same since the cost-recovery computation for these items were lower than their current rates.
A total of 372 items or about 60% of the 622, meanwhile, will be increased as the cost recovery computation for such items were higher than the existing rate.
The increase is limited to 30%, taking into consideration the allowable inflation rate as adopted by the Department of Budget and Management and the 10-year period since the last revision of the schedule.
Malaluan said with MARINA’s full digitalization, some charges may eventually be lowered with the reduced use of papers and inks, among others, but that “that would be [for] another round” of revision of the schedule.
Ramos, meanwhile, said the review for the updating of the agency’s fees and charges started in March 2024 and has undergone a series of technical working group reviews and public consultation, until its Board approval last November.
Aside from the new schedule of fees and charges, MARINA is also preparing to increase penalties for maritime offenses to promote compliance.
Malaluan said the objective is that it should be cheaper to comply than to violate, and that penalties should be a deterrent for offenses. The revised fines and penalties will be presented to the MARINA Board in January 2026.
Malaluan earlier noted that some ship/boat operators opt for fines instead of complying with rules since penalties are affordable.
MARINA officer-in-charge deputy administrator for operations Emmanuel Carpio also earlier noted that it’s about time to amend MARINA Circular 120, issued in 1997, which lists maritime offenses and the corresponding penalties.
READ: MARINA eyes hike in penalties for maritime offenses
These include violations on the terms and conditions of the Certificate of Public Convenience and provisional authority, temporary registration of foreign-owned vessels under time charter or lease to Philippine nationals for use in the Philippine coastwise trade, and policies on taxes and investments, among others.
Carpio noted, though, that they have seen less violations lately as recent MARINA policies already include updated fines and penalties.
READ: MARINA reinstates insurance requirement to cover liabilities from maritime accidents
He added that the agency has strengthened its partnership with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), which enforces MARINA’s policies and is in charge of regular as well as surprise ship inspections.
Aside from the annual and seasonal inspection of vessels, MARINA this year started its intensified monitoring of passenger vessels’ compliance with safety rules and regulations.
Random inspections are being conducted ahead of peak travel periods, such as Holy Week, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, and Christmas and New Year’s season.
Both Malaluan and Carpio noted that there are instances when boats/vessels are compliant with requirements during regular inspections, but may not be able to maintain or may overlook such requirements after the inspection.
For example, life-saving appliances at the time of regular inspection are complete but in the following days and months are not maintained or have expired, thus, the random inspections and the intensified cooperation with PCG. — Roumina Pablo
