By HENRY EMPEÑO

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the government agency responsible for the development of the maritime industry, is looking to establish a satellite office in this free port to serve the big number of seafarers in the Zambales-Bataan area and nearby parts of Luzon.

Retired Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad, who is MARINA administrator, broached this plan early this week during a maritime industry forum here, which sought to discuss initiatives to bring the agency’s services closer to the Filipino people.

“We want to open an extension office here in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone that will cater to the 21,305 seafarers from Bataan, Olongapo, Zambales, and the (Subic Bay Freeport Zone),” Empedrad said.

He said the Subic extension office may be established through a memorandum of agreement with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which manages the Subic special economic zone.

“Today, we would like to share the vision of moving the maritime industry with the SBMA, the local government of Olongapo, maritime academe and private stakeholders, as we believe that our united efforts would contribute to the realization of the plans under the 10-year Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP),” Empedrad said.

“MARINA cannot do it alone, but with our united efforts, the dream may become a reality,” he added.

“Today, we would like to share the vision of moving the maritime industry with the SBMA, the local government of Olongapo, maritime academe and private stakeholders, as we believed that our united efforts would contribute to the realization of the plans under the ten-year Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP),” he said.

The proposal was warmly received by SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino Sr., a statement from the Subic agency said.

Paulino reportedly noted the benefits that such a satellite office will bring the seafarers of Central Luzon, and committed “to provide any assistance needed in the plan to develop the maritime industry of the Subic Freeport.”

SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Operations Ronnie Yambao said the Subic Bay Freeport received a total of 1,973 ship calls in 2021, with more than 23.5 million in gross register tonnage.

He added that in January and February 2022 alone, the SBMA respectively received 144 and 186 ship calls that included motor tankers, motor vessels, military ships, and container vessels.

The recent maritime forum “Philippine Maritime Industry Strategic Overview Forum, Stakeholders’ Orientation and Mobile Registration” that was held here partly to enhance the capability of the Subic Bay Freeport as a transshipment hub. ~