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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to establish an extension office of the Maritime Industry Authority 
(MARINA) in the City of Laoag, Province of Ilocos Norte.  
MARINA is the leading agency for maritime administration for safer people, 
ships, and a cleaner environment. It likewise envisions the Philippines to have a 
globally competitive naval industry.  
Under its mandate, MARINA registers, supervises, and regulates all vessels, 
provides technological training assistance to all Filipino fisherfolk, and processes 
certificates and professional identification cards or seaman’s books for Filipino 
seafarers, among others.  
According to the MARINA Central Office, the Province of Ilocos Norte, as of 
August 2019, has an estimated 4,167 seafarers residing in the province. In the 
First Legislative District of Ilocos Norte alone, there are 2,567 seafarers. 
MUNICIPALITY 
NO. OF SEAFARERS 
Adams 
480 
Bacarra 
246 
Bangui 
58 
Burgos 
50 
Carasi 
5 
Dumalneg 
40 
Laoag 
745 
Pagudpud 
95 
Pasuquin 
193 
Sarrat 
254 
Vintar 
401 
TOTAL 
2,567 
November 21, 2022
3:39 pm
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Ilocano seafarers still must travel 8-12 hours to Manila to process their 
requirements for training and other applications, and the distance and expenses 
alone put a heavy burden on them. 
 
The nearest regional office of MARINA is in San Fernando City, La Union, which 
is approximately five (5) hours of travel from Laoag City. Although it is much 
easier for residents of Ilocos Norte to go to La Union instead of Manila, the field 
office can accommodate only a limited number of applicants. Therefore, this 
limitation forces some applicants to travel to the MARINA Central office in 
Manila. 
 
Establishing a MARINA extension office in Laoag City will likewise assist the 
fisherfolk of Ilocos Norte with their requests for financial and technological 
assistance. As a result, the fishing industry in Ilocos Norte continues to flourish. 
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority - Ilocos Region’s fisheries 
production grew in 2019 by 9.34%. In Region I alone, Ilocos Norte shared 3.54% 
of the total fisheries production. 
 
Thus, establishing an extension office will not only lessen the burden on the 
seafarers of Ilocos Norte but provide an opportunity for the province to have an 
equal chance to develop its fishing industry. 
 
Therefore, this representation seeks the urgent passage of this measure. 
 
 
 
 
RUDYS CAESAR G. FARIÑAS I 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING AN EXTENSION OFFICE OF THE MARITIME INDUSTRY 
AUTHORITY (MARINA) IN THE CITY OF LAOAG, PROVINCE OF ILOCOS 
NORTE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR  
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SEC. 1.  There shall be established an extension office of the Maritime 
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Industry Authority (MARINA) in the City of Laoag, Province of Ilocos Norte. The 
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extension office shall provide services for the residents of the Province of Ilocos 
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Norte and other nearby provinces. 
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SEC. 2.  The Administrator of MARINA shall immediately include in the 
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Authority’s program the operationalization of the MARINA extension office in the 
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City of Laoag, Province of Ilocos Norte, the initial funding of which shall be 
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charged against the current year’s appropriations of MARINA Region 1 located 
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in the Province of La Union. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the 
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regular and continued operation of the MARINA extension office shall be included 
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in the annual General Appropriations Act.  
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SEC. 3.  The Secretary of Transportation, thru the Administrator of 
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MARINA, is hereby authorized to reorganize the offices, personnel, funds, and 
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properties of the MARINA   Region 1 for the effective and efficient delivery of 
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services for the residents of Ilocos Norte.  The Secretary of Transportation and 
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MARINA shall submit the consolidated reorganization plan and any amendments 
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thereof to the President of the Philippines for his approval. 
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The authority granted under this Section may be exercised until December 
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31, 2022.  
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SEC 4.  Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the 
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Secretary of Transportation shall, in coordination with the Administrator of 
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MARINA, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
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implementation of this Act. 
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SEC. 5.  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
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the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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