The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) is making the modernization of the country’s aging domestic shipping fleet its top priority, aiming to roll out safer, cleaner and more fuel-efficient vessels to boost inter-island transport across the archipelago.
Newly designated Officer-in-Charge Administrator Rear Admiral Loumer P. Bernabe, PN (Ret.), said upgrading the fleet sits at the core of his leadership, noting that shipping remains the lifeline for moving people and goods between the country’s thousands of islands. The program will replace older ships with modern ones that meet stricter safety and environmental rules, making sea travel and cargo delivery more dependable and efficient.
Beyond ships themselves, Bernabe is pushing to modernize the local shipbuilding sector and upgrade domestic shipyards so the country can better build, repair and maintain its own vessels, supporting the fleet renewal from within. MARINA is also fast-tracking digital upgrades for its services—including vessel registration, licensing and seafarer certification—to cut red tape, speed up transactions and make regulation more efficient. Digital tracking and real-time monitoring systems will be put in place to improve safety enforcement and help authorities respond faster to emergencies at sea.
The agency is also laying the groundwork for the International Maritime Organization’s mandatory Member State Audit Scheme scheduled for June 2027. The audit will review how well the Philippines enforces international standards on safety, marine protection, crew training and vessel oversight. MARINA is updating policies and aligning local rules with global standards to ensure the country is fully prepared.
Industry groups have welcomed Bernabe’s appointment by Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, citing his extensive background in military command and transport management. Stakeholders have also praised his focus on working closely with the private sector, noting that effective reforms must keep pace with the real-world operations of shipping lines, shipbuilders and port operators.
Bernabe first joined MARINA as Deputy Administrator for Operations in April 2026 and took on his current post in October 2026. A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1987, he previously led the Philippine Fleet, served as Chief of Naval Staff and headed Naval Forces Central, and was a recipient of the Presidential Lingkod ng Bayan Award in 2019. After retiring from military service, he also served as a regional director and executive director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
