MARINA Strengthens Collaboration with Overseas Shipping Stakeholders

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has strengthened its collaboration with the government agencies and the private sector whose interests are anchored on the overseas shipping industry.

In a meeting with the involved stakeholders, the MARINA highlighted the importance of active cooperation and collaboration in achieving the plans and programs for the maritime industry, specifically those under the 10-year maritime industry development plan (MIDP).

Engr. Ramon Hernandez of the MARINA - Shipyards Regulation Service (SRS) shared the prospective industry and economic impacts of the establishment of the first-ever global maritime hub, which is the Priority Program #5 of the 10-year MIDP.

Engr. Hernandez emphasized that the global maritime hub shall promote the Philippine flag registry, develop the Philippines as transshipment and bunkering hub in the Southeast Asian Region, upgrade and expand local shipyards, as well as lead to the establishment of an eco-industrial maritime park and maritime training and research center.

“The implementation of the MIDP will lead to the development of the maritime industry and consequently contribute to the growth of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The MIDP priority programs shall only mean good and positive to the country’s maritime industry as we strive to reform, revitalize and innovate for the future,” Engr. Hernandez said.

Furthermore, Atty. Jean Ver Pia of the MARINA – OSS discussed the activities under the different components of having an attractive Philippine registry which is one of the projects under the Priority Program #5: Establishment of the Global Maritime Hub of the 10-year MIDP.

These include the: (1) Strengthening of regional and international cooperation such as with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other similar bilateral agreements to support the competitive position of Philippine Flag Vessels; (2) Strengthening of shipping services for Philippine export and import trade transportation; (3) Development and promotion of ship financing schemes, and incentives for ship owning and shipping industry; (4) Review and improvement of bare-boat chartering program and ship mortgage law; (5) Strengthening of ship management, ship brokerage, ship handling and ship insurance services; and (6) Strengthening of the maritime administration through ratification and implementation of international maritime instruments and restructuring of MARINA.

The conceptual framework of the Maritime Safety Campaign was also discussed by Dir. Jose Venancio Vero of the MARINA – Maritime Safety Service (MSS), highlighting how it will ensure the strict and full compliance of Philippine-registered ships plying the international trade with significant IMO instruments relating to safety, security and marine environmental protection. This will ensure the facilitation of trade and commerce as it prevents the unnecessary interdiction of Philippine-registered ships by foreign port State control inspectors.

Finally, the MARINA also talked about the draft amendments to the MARINA circulars on the “Rules in the Acquisition of Ships under Presidential Decree (PD) 760, as amended, “Rules on the Accreditation of Maritime Enterprises”, and “Omnibus Rules on the Issuance of Special Permit for the Temporary Utilization of Philippine-registered ships whether Trading Overseas or Domestic” respectively.

The meeting ended with the re-launching of the MARINA - OSS online registration system to promote ease and convenience in doing business in the overseas shipping industry.

Get 10% Discount on Local Hotels with travelbook.ph and EastWest Bank

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Start your summer getaway right and score hotel discounts from travelbook.ph and EastWest Bank!

Enjoy 10% discount on Philippine hotels via your EastWest Bank Credit, Debit, or Prepaid Card when you book from February 15 to March 15, 2019.

For more information, see promo Terms and Conditions


Terms and Conditions

The promo is open to all EastWest Credit Cardholders in good credit standing, Debit and Prepaid Cardholders ("Cardholders" and “Cardholder”).

Booking Period is from February 15 to March 15, 2019. Stay Period is from February 15 to September 15, 2019.

Cardholders can enjoy 10% discount on local hotel accommodations by booking during the booking period using their EastWest Credit, Debit, or Prepaid Card. Additionally, the stay period must be within the dates indicated above.

To avail of the discount, the Cardholder must go to www.travelboook.ph/eastwest and choose from the promo-eligible hotels available.

A minimum purchase amount of PHP 1,500 is required to avail of the promo.

The cardholder must enter the first 6 digits of his/her qualified EastWest Credit, Debit, or Prepaid Card on the Booking Details page and use the same card for payment.

The offer cannot be applied retroactively. Travelbook.ph reserves the right to cancel bookings resulting from fraudulent transactions.

By joining this promo, the Cardholder confirms that he/she has read, understood, and agreed to the mechanics of the promo, including, but not limited to these Terms and Conditions.

Terms and conditions indicated in the Terms and Conditions Governing the Issuance and Use of EastWest Credit, Debit and Prepaid Cards shall apply.

For any concern or inquiry regarding the offer, the cardholder may call the travelbook.ph hotline at (02) 304-5555 or email customerservice@travelbook.ph. For any inquiry or concern on the promo or the card account, Cardholders may contact EastWest Customer Service at (02) 888-1700 or email us at cards@eastwestbanker.com.

All questions or disputes regarding the Cardholder's eligibility for the promo shall be resolved by EastWest. In case of disputes relating to the promo, the decision of EastWest and travelbook.ph shall be conclusive with approval from DTI.

Accounts should not be delinquent (i.e. for Credit Cards), not under investigation due to suspected fraudulent activities, those whose EastWest Credit, Debit and Prepaid Cards are not reported lost or stolen, and those who have not otherwise, violated any of the Terms & Conditions Governing the Issuance and Use of EastWest Credit, Debit and Prepaid Cards.


Per DTI-FTEB Permit no. 2254 Series of 2019.

DOTr Announces Common Station Ready to Go

Wazzup Pilipinas!

DOTr signs contract for the design and build of the Unified Grand Central Station (Area A)

There’s no stopping the construction of the Common Station, as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) formally signed the contract for the design and build of ‘Area A’ of the Unified Grand Central Station (UGCS), also known as the Common Station on 13 February 2019.

The Common Station, located at the north end of EDSA, marks the intersection of four railway lines – the LRT-1, MRT-3, MRT-7, and the Metro Manila Subway. It aims to provide a seamless transfer of passengers from one rail line to another.

The Common Station will feature a transit area for the riding public, operated by an automated fare collection system, which will give commuters better point-to-point mobility and comfort. It is expected to serve approximately 500,000 passengers daily upon completion.

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade led the signing ceremony at the site of the construction, together with Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Reinier Paul Yebra and Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan who signed the contract on behalf of the DOTr. Meanwhile, Lucila Gomez signed as authorized representative of the BF Corporation and Foresight Development and Surveying Company Consortium.

“What is the value of the Common Station? Three things: interoperability, intermodality, and interconnectivity. Those three are key elements in making the Filipino life comfortable,” Secretary Tugade said.

With the location of the Common Station stalled since 2009, DOTr Secretary Tugade, in the first 100 days of the Duterte administration, met with all parties involved and got them to agree on a location.

“Alam niyo ‘ho, ‘yung Common Station, matagal na ‘hong inumpisahan ‘yan. Nung nag-umpisa po kami, nagkapit-bisig tayo kasama ang mga tinatawag na economic tai-pans at sinabi nila, ‘makikiisa kami sa inyo. Magsama-sama tayong bigyang buhay at bigyan ng katunayan ang tinatawag na Common Station na inaasam ng madlang bayan’,” the transportation chief added.

The Common Station is a 13,700-square meter concourse comprised of three areas: Area A under the DOTr, Area B under Ayala Land Inc., and Area C under the MRT-7 Project facilitated by San Miguel Corporation (SMC). Since the groundbreaking in 2017, Ayala Land Inc. has started the construction of Area B.

Area A is set to be completed by 2020, while the entire Common Station is expected to be operational by 2022.

“November 28, 2006 – ‘yan po ang petsa kung kailan naaprubahan ang konsepto ng Common Station. Fast-forward to 2019, and we are now closer to what we have thought of more than a decade ago,” DOTr Undersecretary Batan said.

The construction of the Common Station is one of many projects under the Build, Build, Build Program of the Duterte administration, with the groundbreaking ceremony for the PNR Clark Phase 1 (Tutuban-Malolos) scheduled on 15 February 2019, and the groundbreaking of the Metro Manila Subway on 26 February 2019.

“Groundbreaking is one thing. Completion of a project is another thing. If you do not complete the project with the quality expected and within the timeline formulated, I will hold you accountable in the books,” Secretary Tugade emphasized.