Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 8563

Introduced by MARINO Party-list Representatives
SANDRO L. GONZALEZ
and MACNELL M. LUSOTAN

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MARITIME INDUSTRY
AUTHORITY (MARINA) REGIONAL OFFICE IN ILAGAN CITY, PROVINCE OF
ISABELA AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Composed of five (5) provinces ~ Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino, the
Administrative Region of Cagayan Valley (Region II) is home to a number of indispensable
industries including the production of agricultural products such as rice, corn, and tobacco,
livestock (cattle, hog, carabao) and poultry; and furniture making for export of its rattan and
other indigenous materials. Cagayan Valley is the second largest Philippine administrative
region by land area, next only to the Southwestern Tagalog Region.

Other than its acclaimed title as the “Tilapia Capital of the Philippines”, the region is home to
a burgeoning fishing industry, particularly along the coasts of Cagayan, Isabela, Batanes, and
the Magat Dam. The mighty Rio Grande de Cagayan runs through the provinces on the region
with the Chico, Magat, and Tlagan Rivers as its main tributaries.

Home to 3,451,410 residents recorded by the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2015, Cagayan
Valley hosts two (2) major ports, namely Port Irene in Cagayan Special Economic Zone and
Froc Port (CSEZFP) and Port of Aparti. It has also bccn identified as location for additional
major Roll-On Roll-Off (RoRo) routes through the Kalayaan Wharf and San Vicente Port in
Cagayan and Maconacon Port in Isabela. It also contributes to the increasing number of highly
competent Filipino seafarers through its accredited maritime higher education institutions
(MHEIs).

‘The establishment of an additional regional office to provide maritime-related services is an
important step toward ensuring access to national government support to spur socio-economic
development in Cagayan Valley in order to keep up with the rest of Northern Luzon.

Its for these reasons that we enjoin our colleagues in the House to support the passage of this

bill.


SANDRO L. GONZALEZ MAQSELL M. LUSOTAN
Representative Representative
MARINO Party-list MARINO Party-list


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.__8563

Introduced by MARINO Party-list Representatives
SANDRO L. GONZALEZ
and MACNELL M. LUSOTAN

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MARITIME INDUSTRY
AUTHORITY (MARINA) REGIONAL OFFICE IN ILAGAN CITY, PROVINCE OF
ISABELA AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

Section 1. Creation of Regional Office — There shall be established under the Maritime
Industry Authority (MARINA) a Regional Office in the City of Ilagan, Province of Isabela.

Section 2. Functions — The Regional Office in Hagan City shall provide frontline
services of the MARINA, including, but not limited to, the processing and issuance of
certificates of competency, endorsement, proficiency and documentary evidence required of
seafarers; and processing and issuance of certificates of ship safety, public convenience,
registration and documentary requirements of ships, in the exercise of its powers and functions
under existing laws, orders, rules and regulations.

Section 3. Appropriations — The amount necessary for the initial implementation of
this Act shall be charged against the savings or current year’s appropriations of the MARINA.
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 4, Implementing Rules and Regulations — The MARINA shall issue the
necessary implementing rules and regulations in accordance with the provisions of this Act
within ninety (90) days from the effectivity hereof. In the formulation of such rules and
regulations, the MARINA shalll ensure that the processes and procedures in providing frontline
services shall be the most efficient and convenient way for its stakcholders including, but not
tion and automation, and elimination of redundant fees and charges.

ied to, compute

Section 5. Separability Clause — \f for any reason any section or provision of this Act
is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections, or provisions hereof not affected by
such declaration shall remain in force and in effect.


Section 6. Repealing Clause — All existing laws, orders, decrees, rules and regulations
or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

Section 7. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,