MARINA launches Service Contracting Program for maritime sector

May 26 ------ The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has launched its nationwide Service Contracting Program for the maritime sector at the Batangas Pier.

The Layag Alalay ng Gobyerno Program is expected to run for 14 days or two weeks. “Sakop din po ng Service Contracting Program for maritime… ang mga ruta na may high-demand na pasahero… Nasa 11 na ruta po ito with 33 operators at 93 ferries na lalahok dito sa commuter routes na tinatawag dito sa maritime sector,” DOTr Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Atty. Mark Steven Pastor said.

Echoing MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan, Pastor said the program will benefit around 1.1 million passengers daily, with fare discounts as high as P192. Eligible trips under the program have the following qualifications:

- a purely passenger vessel;

- has less than two hours of travel time;

- has high passenger traffic; and

- has no alternative route

“Sa ruta, for example, sa Cebu, from Cebu City to Lapu-Lapu, mataas ang [passenger] traffic niyan pero you can take the car, the bus or the taxi—daan kayo ng bridge. So hindi natin sila isinama kasi merong alternative route,” Malaluan explained.

Source: gmanetwork.com