A total of 45 shipyard industry stakeholders from Luzon and the Visayas rallied behind the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in pushing for the passage of twin bills — the Shipbuilding and Ship Repair (SBSR) Development Bill and the SBSR Fiscal Incentives Bill.
At the recent Shipyard Owners and Associations Stakeholders’ Forum in Manila, representatives from shipyards, maritime associations, and allied industries pledged their commitment to legislation that will strengthen the country’s SBSR sector, boost its global competitiveness, and ensure sustainable growth.
The SBSR Development Bill seeks to establish a clear policy and institutional framework to advance the local shipbuilding and ship repair industry through infrastructure improvements, technology adoption, and workforce development. Complementing this, the SBSR Fiscal Incentives Bill aims to attract more investments into the sector.
Once enacted, the two SBSR bills are expected to generate quality jobs, stimulate regional economic activity, and position the Philippines as one of the leading global hubs for shipbuilding and ship repair.
MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan, together with representatives from the SBSR industry, welcomed the show of support, noting that the growing consensus among stakeholders sends a clear message to Congress on the urgency of passing the measures.
“This call from our industry partners reflects our shared commitment to steer the SBSR sector toward innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth,” Malaluan said.
MARINA’s legislative agenda has been languishing for the past four Congresses. This time, the agency whose main task is to push for the development of the country’s maritime sector is adopting a more aggressive and proactive stance to pass their bills to ensure its continued development or risk further losing its global competitiveness.
