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THE body
tasked to study and possibly revamp the Philippines’
overlapping maritime laws has begun its initial meetings
at the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).
According to the Department of Transportation and
Communications (DOTC), the agency has contracted the
services of the University of the Philippines Law School
in UP Diliman to give academic muscle to the group,
which includes local maritime experts and also from
Norway, the project’s funder.
Transportation officials said the revamp of the
country’s existing shipping laws—and the creation of an
omnibus maritime law—is needed to end the occasional row
between Marina and the Philippine Coast Guard, which
both fall under the DOTC.
In 2005,
both agencies signed an agreement which put the Coast
Guard in charge of ship safety inspection. However, when
maritime mishaps occur, both agencies are at odds on who
should take the responsibility.
Currently, Marina is also in conflict with the
Department of Labor and Employment and the Professional
Regulation Commission, over issues regarding Filipino
seafarers.
Earlier,
Maria Elena H. Bautista, DOTC undersecretary for
maritime sector, said the proposed omnibus law will not
create another department for the country’s maritime
sector but will only study on what the industry needs.
More
than five years ago, moves to create a separate
department for the maritime sector failed to stay
afloat, owing to the country’s stagnant shipping
industry.
Meanwhile, Norway has given the Philippines a technical
assistance grant of $200,000 (about P9.6 million) for
the project, which, among others, is expected to draft
the said omnibus law. |
