The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) is requesting a total of ₱250 million in funding to upgrade its outdated digital infrastructure and build a dedicated disaster recovery system, following a recent cybersecurity incident that exposed critical gaps in its current technology.
The agency is asking for ₱150 million for a full nationwide technology refresh, including replacing obsolete hardware and updating software, and another ₱100 million to set up a dedicated disaster recovery facility that can restore operations quickly if main systems go down.
MARINA noted its existing digital infrastructure has been in place since 2017 and has never undergone a comprehensive technical overhaul. It currently lacks a dedicated backup system capable of taking over immediately during major disruptions—whether from cyberattacks, technical failures, or other emergencies.
The push for upgrades comes after the agency detected multiple suspicious activities targeting its systems. While no data was lost and no personal information was accessed, MARINA took affected systems offline as a precaution. Administrator Sonia Malaluan confirmed: “There was no loss of data, no data was taken. There were many attempts, many suspicious activities. Your personal data [seafarers’] was not obtained.”
MARINA said it first identified the need for modernization back in 2024 and has been seeking budget approval since then, but the funds were not released. “With the increasing sophistication of hackers today, the system should have been updated. We have been requesting the budget for this since 2024, but it was not available,” the agency stated.
Officials emphasized the upgrades are critical to maintaining reliable, secure digital services for Filipino seafarers and the broader maritime sector. A dedicated disaster recovery system would ensure essential operations can resume quickly, preventing service disruptions to the industry.
