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The Maritime Industry Authority has finally updated its schedule of fees and charges, maintaining some rates while increasing some by 30%
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The new omnibus schedule of fees and charges under MARINA Memorandum Circular No. GC-2026-01 updates the existing schedule issued in 2015 and will take effect 15 days after January 28
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Among the 622 items in the rate schedule, 42 that are seafarer-related and another 208 will remain the same
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A total of 372 items or about 60% of the 622 will increase as the cost recovery computation for such items were higher than the existing rate, with the increase limited 30%
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The new MC establishes a unified and comprehensive fee schedule for all of the agency’s services and regulatory processes
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has finally updated its schedule of fees and charges after a decade, but maintaining some rates while increasing some by 30%.
The new omnibus schedule of fees and charges under MARINA Memorandum Circular (MC) No. GC-2026-01 was approved by the MARINA Board on November 20, 2025 and updates its existing schedule under MC 2015-05 that was issued in 2015.
MC No. GC-2026-01 will take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation on January 28, which would be February 12.
The memo also repeals, amends, or modifies other inconsistent rules, including MC 2015-05.
READ: MARINA adjusting some fees, charges by early 2026
In a press briefing last December, 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 items 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.
MARINA administrator Sonia Malaluan earlier 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.
READ: MARINA eyes hike in penalties for maritime offenses
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.
Carpio noted, though, that they have seen less violations lately as recent MARINA policies already include updated fines and penalties. — Roumina Pablo
