The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) will launch online services for seafarers and stakeholders on July 1, streamlining processes and applications in the maritime sector.
MARINA National Capital Region director Marc Anthony Pascua said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum on Tuesday the online services are part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to digitalize government transactions.
“All our processes will be online. There will be QR codes from start to finish,” Pascua said.
The online services are part of the 10-point Maritime Agenda, which includes the rollout of the MARINA Blockchain-Enabled Automatic Certification System (BEST), according to Pascua.
The QR codes will allow partner agencies in the maritime sector, like the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), to easily verify the authenticity of documents, Pascua added.
“Our enforcers will scan the QR code to verify if (documents) are registered with us to prevent fraudulent and spurious documents,” he said.
Pascua also discussed the proposed MARINA organizational structure and extension offices for 2025, which he said would strengthen MARINA’s efforts to protect the welfare and rights of Filipino seafarers.
“We really need to strengthen our capabilities in ensuring the safety of maritime stakeholders,” Pascua said.
(DOTr-MARINA)