Sonia Malaluan, administrator of the Philippines’ Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), brings over three decades of expertise and international experience to her role after president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. appointed her on December 18 2023. She has been with MARINA, an agency of the Department of Transportation, since 1989.
In an exclusive interview with the Maritime Fairtrade, she outlines her strategic vision for MARINA, focusing on regulatory excellence, and global competitiveness in the maritime sector.
What propelled you to work in the maritime sector?
Joining the maritime industry was never intentional. No one in the family is a seafarer nor works in a maritime-related organization or entity. After passing the Certified Public Accountant licensure examination, I was just looking for any job that offered career growth opportunities. I was pushed by my mother to work in a government office and I was accepted by MARINA.
I don’t think I have a passion for the sea. My passion is for excellence in work. I always give 101 percent on every task that is given to me. I do not stop when I am tired, I only stop when the work is done. I rose from the ranks and served in various capacities, in different service units of the organization – from entry to top position.
What was the most pivotal moment in your career?
I considered my studies at the World Maritime University (WMU) from 1997 to 1998, the most pivotal moment in my career. Having a non-maritime degree, I felt challenged to fully understand maritime work being mostly technical.
WMU opened my mind and provided me with essential knowledge, immersed me in the maritime world, and created a network and bond with other maritime professionals around the globe. I can say the goals of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in establishing WMU has been effective, with its graduates occupying high-level positions in the maritime administrations of IMO Member States.
MARINA has identified priorities for 2024. Tell us how the government plans to roll out the digitalization of processes, enhance maritime safety, and passage of relevant bills in Congress.
The digitalization project started in 2022 and my role is to ensure that it is implemented as envisioned and on time. A nationwide orientation and user training was conducted from March to May 2024 and it is now ready to roll out starting July 1.
As to the enhancement of maritime safety, MARINA is implementing the recommendations resulting from the compliance assessment made by the French maritime expert to MARINA. This is complemented by strengthened compliance monitoring activities by the MARINA Enforcement Service, focusing on the causes of incidents or accidents. The Agency is also forging a stronger partnership with the Philippine Coast Guard in the enforcement of maritime safety rules and regulations.
The legislative agenda under the Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP) was presented to His Excellency President Marcos last January 2024, and he recognized the importance of having an updated Ship Registration Law and a Law for the Development of the Local Shipbuilding industry. Though the corresponding bills were filed in Congress for the two priority legislative agendas, there is very limited progress on their deliberation, thus we are not confident that those bills will be enacted into law during the 19th Congress or until June 2025.
The MARINA legal team has been polishing the draft bills to be ready for presentation in the 20th Congress and will launch an aggressive strategy in the House of Representatives and Senate to ensure that the bills will be enacted before the end of the 20th Congress.
MARINA seeks to push national legislation of two IMO Conventions. How do you plan to do this?
Included in the MIDP 2028 is the ratification or accession to the Hongkong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (Hong Kong Convention) adopted in 2009 and will take effect on June 25, 2025 and the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea (2010 HNS Convention).
The plan will follow the Procedures on Ratification or Accession International Instruments through the Interagency Coordinating Committee to facilitate the Ratification of and Accession to IMO Conventions created under Executive Order No.159, series of 2021. This a mechanism where different relevant government agencies coordinate and collaborate to implement the ratification or accession process, which includes among others the conduct of National Interest Analysis, and subsequent concurrence by all concerned. We are confident that the ratification process for both Conventions will be completed before end of 2024.
What is your biggest challenge as head of MARINA?
The biggest challenge is to achieve a good balance between and among political, economic, and social impacts or pressures resulting from emerging technologies; urgency and need to address climate change; high cost of investment; lack of financing and incentives in the maritime industry; need to have a culture shift within the organization and the private entities; and limited resources of the organization.
With escalating ship attacks, what further steps can be taken to protect the safety of Filipino seafarers?
Considering that the MARINA is not directly involved in the deployment of Filipino seafarers, we support the Department of Migrant Workers’ policy that seafarers may refuse to go to high-risk areas. Increased awareness and security training of seafarers are also considered.
Given the lack of a data-oriented framework for maritime traffic, how do you address this?
MARINA and the Department of Science and Technology, through the University of the Philippines, developed the Maritime Transportation Information System for Shipping Route Rationalization. The application system includes inputting of actual passengers and cargoes transported by shipping companies, operators, and entities. The application, after gathering data, can do the analytics and determine the capacity of each route for purposes of route rationalization and even projection of demand for shipping services.
Tell us about MARINA’s new campaign, “Charting a Clean Course, Safely Sailing Together”.
The new campaign “Charting a Clean Course, Safely Sailing Together” will contribute to the transformative journey of MARINA and the maritime industry. This campaign signifies our commitment to providing responsible governance through the ‘whole-of-nation approach’ during this era of Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines).
The campaign is two-pronged, i.e., organization and industry-focused. “Charting a Clean Course” signifies MARINA’s commitment to responsible leadership, addressing or eliminating opportunities for corruption and sustainable maritime, clean, and green industry as well, while “Safely Sailing Together” introduces a narrative of inclusivity and equity.
The administration recognizes the importance of enhancing maritime safety and the same can only be achieved with the participation of all stakeholders, thus stakeholders’ participation and collaboration is part of my agenda.
How do you foresee the Philippine maritime sector several years from now?
With the implementation of the MIDP 2028, we hope to see an improved and vibrant maritime industry with younger, modern, better, and safer ships in domestic shipping; more routes opened connecting the various island economies; increasing their production and economic activities; and giving more jobs to Filipinos around the archipelago. A shipbuilding sector that is also increasing productivity and expanding and the maritime industry that is fully aware of the urgent need to address climate change through measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
What other projects and/or changes can we look forward to?
Agency-wide implementation of the Quality Management System and ISO certification by 2025. In 2025, the project on digitalization will be expanded to include an interface with the sources and users of data within the national level, and in 2026, establish an interface with regional and global players such as the International Chamber of Shipping and other Member States with Norway on top of the list.
Implementation of the Maritime Energy Demand Information and Analysis Software (MEDIANS), an application that will gather data on the fuel consumption of ships and will compute the GHG emissions from ships.
The establishment of the Maritime Industrial Park will support the local shipbuilding industry with materials, spare parts, machinery, and equipment for shipbuilding and ship repair located in one area to shorten the period of construction or repair of ships.
The approval and implementation of a revised Organizational Structure and Staffing Plan of MARINA, bringing its services closer to the public [through] the establishment of Extension Offices nationwide, in addition to the 12 Regional Offices.
Photo credit: MARINA. Sonia Malaluan, administrator, MARINA.
