MARINA grants 30% fee discount, extends docs and payment deadlines

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Maritime Industry Authority Central Office. Photo from MARINA.
  • The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) grants a 30% discount on fees and charges for several applications and requests, and extends the deadline for submitting documents and payments
  • The regulatory relief under MARINA Advisory No. 2021-09 covers applications or requests filed with MARINA’s Central Office service units or regional offices for the period September 2020 to June 30, 2021
  • Deadline for the filing and submission of documents, including notification and reportorial requirements, and the payment of fees and charges falling due on or after September 14, 2020 is extended for 90 calendar days

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) is granting a 30% discount on fees and charges for several applications and requests, including those for certificates for domestic shipping lines, and is extending the deadline for submitting documents and payments.

The regulatory relief, provided under MARINA Advisory (MA) No. 2021-09, is consistent with government policy to reduce adverse socioeconomic impact of COVID-19, and with Republic Act (RA) No. 11494, also known as the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2.

RA 11494, signed on September 11, 2020, sought to fast track Philippine recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic fallout.

The discount covers applications or requests filed with MARINA’s Central Office service units or MARINA regional offices (MRO) for the period September 2020 to June 30, 2021. These applications and requests include:

  • Domestic Shipping Service/MROs – Coastwise License, Bay and River License
  • Franchising Service/MROs – Certificate of Public Convenience, special permit, provisional authority
  • Manpower Development Service/MROs – Domestic Certificate for Competency, Domestic Certificate of Proficiency
  • Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping Office/MROs – All STCW certificates, documentary stamp

The deadline for the filing and submission of documents, including notification and reportorial requirements, and the payment of fees and charges falling due on or after September 14, 2020 is also extended for 90 calendar days. This will be reckoned from the original deadline but not later than June 20, 2021.

Further, no fine and other monetary penalties will be imposed for the non-filing, late filing, or non-compliance with the submission of documents, including the compulsory notification and reportorial requirements, within the applicable deadlines, MA 2021-09 noted.

Shipping organizations have been requesting for some relief from government fees and other operational costs as the pandemic has reduced the volume of their passengers and cargoes.

Domestic cargoes in 2020 fell 24% to 79.274 million metric tons (mt) from 104.428 million mt in 2019, while passenger traffic plunged 70.3% to 24.902 million passengers from 83.721 million passengers in 2019, according to preliminary data from the Philippine Ports Authority. – Roumina Pablo

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