|
VARIOUS
shipping firms are also clamoring for the
rationalization of operations of regulator Maritime
Industry Authority (Marina), especially in the regions,
said an official who asked not to be named.
In an
interview, the
Marina
official said shipping firms are already complaining of
“too much corruption” from both the officials of the
shipping regulator and some local government units.
“They
[shipping firms] are the ones who want this
rationalization at Marina because some regional
officials of Marina are already hampering their
operations,” said the official, who declined to be more
specific.
In an
earlier interview,
Marina
administrator Vincente Suazo Jr., said he wants all
shipping firms to maintain a logbook that will show all
the visits of
Marina officials.
Suazo
said he hoped to limit the “visits” of Marina officials
onboard vessels, many of whom are doing the measure
every time a vessel docks at the local port and not on a
random basis.
By law,
Marina officials should check a vessel before it sets
sail, a measure meant to ascertain the vessel has passed
all requirements for a safe voyage. Since the Marina
does not have the resources such as vessels to apprehend
offenders, it has given the said powers to the
Philippine Coast Guard, which also has limited
capabilities.
In the
regions, however, both the Marina and Coast Guard are
helping each other monitor the vessels.
According to the most recent draft of its
rationalization plan, the Marina’s board has approved to
maintain the current number of its personnel all over
the country to about 500, but there will be movements
among its people.
The
agency’s offices in the provinces will be classed into
three levels, which will be based according to
responsibility and scope of work.
Some of
the offices of the agency at the main office, on the
other hand, will either be rearranged or be merged to
effect efficiency in its functions.
Suazo
said he wanted a smaller organization to follow the
Arroyo administration’s austerity measures among all
government agencies. The Marina’s union officers,
however, sit at most of the agency’s rationalization
meetings to make sure that there will be no streamlining
of operations that will lead to layoffs. |
