FOREIGN companies, through their local vessel- management agencies, should be allowed to establish their own businesses locally so that their ships could be registered under the Philippine flag and possibly generate revenues for the government.

Speaking at the induction of officers of the Philippine Ship Agents Association, a maritime official said that the entry of foreign firms should be “almost without any limitations” to bolster the development of the country’s ship registry.

Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) administrator Vicente T. Suazo Jr. also added that these foreign companies, through their local offices, will significantly increase the number of ships registered in the Philippines. The move will provide additional cash flow for Marina since these firms will have to pay their registration fees and annual tonnage dues.

With annual revenues of P200 million, the country’s shipping regulator only managed to attain excess of income over expenses of P9.72 million, shortly after it phased out supervision fees. 

“It will provide additional employment for Filipino seafarers and other land-based workers. This will enhance trade and promote a better investment climate in the country as well as generate increased foreign-exchange earnings and savings,” Suazo told the members of the association. “This program will likewise stimulate shipbuilding and ship-repair services as well as those of the other ancillary industries in addition to improved socioeconomic conditions and other multiplier effects.”

Suazo said that the proposal was already being studied by the Department of Transportation and Communications before being transmitted to Malacañang for approval.

Under the proposal, foreign-owned ships represented by a ship-management company duly accredited by Marina would be entitled to fly the country’s flag.

It will also provide for the establishment of registry offices in other countries, especially ship-owning nations such as London and Greece, to facilitate, control and enforce compliance of ships flying the flag.  In the past two years, the Marina has been unable to increase the number of Philippine-registered vessels. It has remained stagnant at 168 ships, from about 400 in the 1990s.

Fees for roads to Batangas facility

A JAPANESE lender has asked a government agency to collect toll fees on all vehicles using an access road and a fly-over leading to the Batangas Port.

FOREIGN companies, through their local vessel- management agencies, should be allowed to establish their own businesses locally so that their ships could be registered under the Philippine flag and possibly generate revenues for the government.

SEOUL—San Francisco sued the owner, captain and operator of the Cosco Busan container ship that spilled 58,000 gallons of fuel oil into the city’s bay, seeking millions in compensation for cleanup and civil penalties.