MARINA-ARMM details out its functions

COTABATO CITY --- The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) continues to strengthen its functions within the area of jurisdiction.

Alonto A. Sahiron, regional director of MARINA-ARMM, said that he joined MARINA in year 2014 and as the head of office, one of his major priorities was the databank asto the number of vessels operating within the area of jurisdiction of the ARMM.

“However, we have some devolution issues here. Like for instance, we are only given the power to register within the ARMM areas, but when it is in the regional route, the power is with MARINA national,” he said.

Sahiron cited the case of Isabela City which is not part of the region but belongs to the island of Basilan which is under the ARMM.

“We cannot register those vessels or motorize bancasoperating within Isabela City simply because it is within the regional route. It is not under our territory or area of jurisdiction,” Sahiron said.

Sahiron added it was one of their sentiments as they implement the agency’s functions.

“Others would tell us why not? We’re from the ARMM so why we’re not allowed? Sahiron said in Tagalog.

In this case, Sahiron said that all they register were only small motorize bancas.

“But we can only register home ported vessels covering Tawi-tawi-Basilan-Sulu routes. Meaning, when the route for example is from Tawi-Tawiheading to Zamboanga City, we are not allowed,” he said.

Further, Sahiron said they also issues SP’s for the temporary utilization of domestic vessels in the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippine- East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) routes.

In the midst of the challenge, Sahiron believed there should be revisiting of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and Executive Order with MARINA national on the powers and functions that has been devolved to the agency.

“After an initial meeting with MARINA national, my 2017 plan is to negotiate with them to solve the problems here,” he said.(GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE ACOSTA – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)