Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________ 
Introduced by MARINO Party-list Representative 
SANDRO L. GONZALEZ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A MARITIME INDUSTRY AUTHORITY (MARINA) 
REGIONAL OFFICE IN BALANGA CITY, PROVINCE OF BATAAN AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The seven (7) provinces comprising the Administrative Region of Central Luzon 
(Region III) prides itself not only as the “Rice Granary of the Philippines”, but also as 
home to rapidly expanding maritime activities with the presence of important sea ports 
including the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, the Mariveles Grain Terminal, and Ports of 
Lucanin, Limay, and Orion in Bataan. 
Filipino-owned shipyards including Herma, Seafront & Marine are, likewise, 
located in the region alongside numerous accredited maritime higher education 
institutions (MHEIs) including the Maritime Academy of Asia and Pacific (MAAP) and 
Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) and maritime training institutes 
(MTIs) in Subic and Bataan.  
Further, the Philippine Statistics Authority noted that Central Luzon’s total 
volume of fisheries production increased by 1.8 percent in the first quarter of 2022. The 
region’s total fisheries production was at 97.4 thousand metric tons for the first quarter 
of 2022 with 1.7 thousand metric tons increased from its 2021 production. The slight 
increase was attributed by the increments of commercial and aquaculture fisheries at 
36.0 percent and 6.6 percent, respectively.1 
1 Volume of Fisheries Production in Central Luzon Fourth Quarter 2021. Philippine Statistics Authority RSSO 
03. (2022, February 24). Retrieved from http://rsso03.psa.gov.ph/article/volume-fisheries-production-central-
luzon-fourth-quarter-
2021#:~:text=The%20total%20production%20of%20municipal,thousand%20metric%20tons%20in%202020.
July 1, 2022
8:12 am
732


In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this proposed measure is highly 
recommended. 
SANDRO L. GONZALEZ 
Representative 
MARINO Party-list 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________ 
Introduced by MARINO Party-list Representative 
SANDRO L. GONZALEZ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A MARITIME INDUSTRY AUTHORITY (MARINA) 
REGIONAL OFFICE IN BALANGA CITY, PROVINCE OF BATAAN 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 Balanga, 
Province of Bataan.  
Section 2. Functions – The Regional Office in Ilagan 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 shall ensure that the processes and procedures in 
providing frontline services shall be the most efficient and convenient way for its 
stakeholders including, but not limited to, computerization and automation, and 
elimination of redundant fees and charges. 
732


Section 5. Separability Clause – If 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,