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The Philippine Inter-Island Shipping Association has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate Maritime Industry Authority administrator Sonia Malaluan for possible violations in the issuance of an advisory that effectively legitimized operations of landing craft tank barges as passenger ferries
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The letter dated September 5 was addressed to acting Ombudsman Mariflor Punzalan-Castillo
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“Ultimately, the signed Advisory legitimizes and encourages the proliferation of LCT barges to carry passengers, whether paying or not, under the pretense of compliance, when in truth, it undermines passenger vessels,” PISA said
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The group’s letter elevates the issue before the national office of the Ombudsman following a similar letter-request filed by Lite Ferries Shipping Corporation before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas
The Philippine Inter-Island Shipping Association (PISA) has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) administrator Sonia Malaluan for issuing an advisory that effectively legitimized operations of landing craft tank (LCT) barges as passenger ferries.
“Ultimately, the signed Advisory legitimizes and encourages the proliferation of LCT barges to carry passengers, whether paying or not, under the pretense of compliance, when in truth, it undermines passenger vessels,” according to PISA in a letter to acting ombudsman Mariflor Punzalan-Castillo dated September 5.
PISA said the practice began when Advisory No. 2025-01 was issued by MARINA administrator Sonia Malaluan.
The group of domestic shipping operators – which sits in the MARINA Board of Trustees/Directors with an observer status – said the advisory effectively gives LCT vessels authority to provide public transport services without adhering to passenger safety requirements, in the process harming legitimate operators such as PISA members who have “complied with costly regulatory standards.”
PISA named 52 LCT vessels in its complaint letter which benefitted from the MARINA directive.
“The MARINA Administrator effectively gave unwarranted benefits, advantage, or preference to operators of LCT barges carrying passengers,” PISA highlights in the letter signed by their president Mark Matthew Parco and executive director Pedro Aguilar.
Among the laws possibly violated are: Section 3(e) of R.A. No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Section 19 of R.A. No. 6770 or the Ombudsman Act of 1989, and Section 5 of RA. . No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct for Public Officials, Gross Misconduct, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of Service.
PISA said they raised their “serious concerns over the unauthorized use of LCT barges as passenger vessels” during deliberations on the draft advisory last year.
However, they were surprised that the final signed copy “issued by Administrator Malaluan with the concurrence of some MARINA officials was altogether different which in effect authorized the very illegal practices proliferating in the maritime industry.”
The Philippine Coastwise Shipping Association (PCSA) also appealed for the immediate suspension of MA 2025-01 in February and called for a dialogue on its impact to the industry.
PCSA likewise pointed out that the final signed version deviated on several points.
PISA’s letter also elevates the issue before the national office of the Ombudsman following a similar letter-request filed on July 15, 2025 by Lite Ferries Shipping Corporation (LFSC) before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.
In that letter, LFSC called for an investigation of MARINA Cebu Regional Director Cherryl Pascua for issuing a Certificate of Public Convenience to LCT vessels, which allows them to carry passengers.
MARINA, an attached agency of the Department of Transportation, is mandated to regulate the Philippine shipping industry under Republic Act 9295 or the Domestic Shipping Development Act of 2004.
