In line with strengthening the global position of the Philippines, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) officially launched the Philippine Overseas Shipping Industry Assessment.
The launch took place during the Second Semester Meeting between MARINA and private stakeholders held virtually on August 19, 2026 led by Overseas Shipping Service Director Ramon Hernandez.
The Assessment aims to determine the situation of overseas shipping, current trends, latest developments, challenges, and future actions. The said assessment is considered crucial to identify data-driven parameters that may contribute in increasing or expanding the Philippine ship registry. “This matters because policy is only as strong as the evidence behind it. Whether we are refining our accreditation framework, advancing the Philippine Ship Registry Bill, or engaging our international partners on flag-state competitiveness, we need to speak from data we trust.” Engr. Hernandez said.
MARINA Deputy Administrator for Operations RAdm Loumer Bernabe PN (Ret) recognized the active participation of private stakeholders in spite of the inclement weather. “Your presence this morning is a powerful statement in itself. It is a clear direction that the relationship between MARINA and the overseas shipping sector is not merely regulatory but genuinely collaborative” RAdm Bernabe said.
On the other hand, among the topics discussed in the meeting is the latest updates in the lobbying of Ship Registry Bill in the 20th Congress, the prelude to POSIDONIA 2028, and updates on the 2nd Philippine Shipping and Shipbuilding Conference (PHILSHIPCON) at Blue Economy Annual Trade and Conference (BEACON), which is scheduled on September 29 – October 1, 2026.
