A top-ranking official from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has proposed the creation of an inter-agency council dedicated to further developing the Philippine Nautical Highway System.
Speaking at the Transport & Logistics Forum 2025 on Wednesday, September 17, Luisito U. Delos Santos, MARINA Director II for Domestic Shipping Service/Franchising Service, floated the idea of establishing a non-governmental authority or inter-agency body focused on assessing and enhancing the country’s nautical highway system. The forum held at the World Trade Center was organized by GlobalLink MP and OLACON, in partnership with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines Inc.
Delos Santos noted that, while specific agencies are tasked with particular maritime responsibilities, there is currently no dedicated agency overseeing the nautical highway. For example, MARINA handles matters related to ships, while the Philippine Ports Authority and other port authorities manage port development. However, he emphasized that “no one is taking care of the nautical highway.”
He expressed hope that Congress would give the nautical highway system due consideration, stressing the need for long-term integration of reforms into both the Philippine Development Plan and the maritime policy development framework.
“Strengthening and developing further the Philippine Nautical Highway matters a lot for the Philippine economy,” he said.
Delos Santos highlighted that about 99 percent of the country’s domestic trade volume is transported by ships. Despite this, domestic logistics costs in the Philippines remain among the highest in Asia, accounting for approximately 27 percent of a product’s value.
He emphasized that maritime transport is not a luxury, but “the only affordable means of travel for millions of island residents.”
RO-RO Ports
Delos Santos clarified that strengthening the nautical highway system involves more than just ships and ports—it requires a national commitment to maritime mobility as a cornerstone of national development.
“This means ferries have to run reliably and efficiently,” he added.
According to his presentation, the country currently has a total of 115 RO-RO routes across the western, central, and eastern nautical highways, with the central highway having the most at 55 routes. For lateral routes, there are 204 RO-RO routes in total, with the Eastwest Lateral having the highest number at 188 routes, followed by Northern Luzon (10) and Southwest Mindanao (6).
However, 52 routes remain unserved, broken down as follows: Eastwest Lateral (34), Northern Luzon Lateral (10), Central Nautical Highway (5), Western Nautical (2), and Southwest Mindanao Lateral (1).
Delos Santos explained that by improving maritime mobility, the Philippines can expect reduced logistics costs and increased competitiveness. This would also unlock productivity for farmers and small enterprises.
“A farmer can deliver fresh produce to Metro Manila in just a matter of hours, [a] tourist [can be] seamlessly traveling from Cebu to Bohol, Palawan, and Boracay. Relief operations during typhoons can be delivered within 24 hours.”
With a fully developed nautical highway system, Delos Santos said, passengers will experience seamless travel, domestic logistics costs will be reduced, competitiveness will be enhanced, and trade will flow more efficiently.
“These are not dreams. These are possibilities within our reach,” he said.
He also urged local governments to align their development plans with the national nautical highway agenda.
“And we encourage every Filipino to recognize that the seas that divide us, our islands, are not borders—they are bridges that connect us all,” he concluded.
Policy initiatives
To support the development of the maritime industry, MARINA has proposed five key policy initiatives:
To push for the strengthening of the country’s maritime industry, MARINA has proposed five policy initiatives.
Foremost is the modernization of domestic fleet by providing incentives for brand-new IACS-class vessels. Pioneer status and tax breaks for RORO ferries credit windows for operators and gradual phase-out of unsafe, aging vessels.
MARINA is also pushing for the expansion of routes and connectivity, targeting the
unserved and underserved routes, and linking of secondary islands and growth corridors.
The three other policy initiatives are port infrastructure and digitalization; safety, security, and sustainability; and institutional and policy reforms.
