Moving forward with its mission to modernize the local maritime sector, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) hosted top officials from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) at its Central Office recently, to advance bilateral cooperation in shipbuilding and ship repair (SBSR).
MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan, alongside key agency officials, convened a high-level meeting with OECD Deputy-Secretary General Yasushi Masaki and OECD Head of Division Alexander Böhmer. The discussions centered on sustaining the Philippines’ position as a premier global shipbuilding nation through continued collaboration on SBSR, ship recycling, and responsible shipbreaking practices.
During the meeting, Administrator Malaluan emphasized that upgrading the country’s SBSR capabilities remains a top priority on MARINA’s development agenda. She highlighted active legislative initiatives in the 20th Congress specifically tailored to accelerate SBSR growth.
“The insights gained from the OECD’s Philippine SBSR Industry Peer Review have been vital, particularly as we craft and refine the landmark SBSR Development Bill,” Malaluan stated. “To truly revolutionize the industry, the Philippines is actively seeking increased foreign investment and strategic technology transfers.”
OECD Deputy-Secretary General Yasushi Masaki commended MARINA’s proactive steps, noting that the legislative momentum surrounding the SBSR Development Bill is a direct, positive outcome of the peer review process. Masaki added that the OECD highly anticipates the broader outcomes of its ongoing maritime dialogues with Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines.
This collaboration builds upon a historic milestone set in 2024, when the Philippines became the first-ever non-OECD member state to undergo a comprehensive OECD peer review of its shipbuilding industry.
Through these sustained international alignments, MARINA aims to transform the Philippine SBSR sector into a modern, technologically advanced, and environmentally sustainable powerhouse.
