Press Release
August 17, 2015

Senate seeks modernization of naval architecture

The Senate today approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to regulate and modernize the practice of naval architecture in the country.

Senator Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV, chairman of the Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation and sponsor of Senate Bill 2482, said the bill sought to replace the five-decade old law crafted in 1965. The new measure, he added, would modernize the practice of naval architecture by updating and incorporating innovations to the existing law.

Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, the principal author of SBN 2482, said it was important that this area of profession be updated to modern standards given that the country's ship building and repair industry is starting to be recognized by other countries.

"Given the advances in the technology and developments in the profession, the law, which has been in existence for 50 years, is no longer responsive to the needs of the Filipino professionals," he said.

Drilon said the Philippines needed to ensure the global competitiveness of our shipbuilders and secure our position as a leading global maritime nation: "We can only do this if we harness the skills of our naval architects by providing them continuing professional development and training."

Data from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in 2013 showed that the Philippines has surpassed its European counterparts in ship building and was ranked as the fifth's world's largest ship building country after China, Japan, Korea and Brazil.

"Our position of influence in the global maritime industry has started to encompass the shipbuilding sector. The economic upswing in this sector rests on the appeal of our naval architects, who are highly valued for their proven competence and remarkable diligence," Trillanes said.

To secure the country's position as a leading global maritime nation, he said, the proposed law sought to introduce international practices and standards in the naval architect profession to keep it at par with other countries.

According to MARINA, the Philippines has 121 licensed shipyards, eight facilities for the construction and repair of big ships and 14 other shipyards for medium-sized ships and 99 yards to service smaller ships.

"The enactment of this bill into law will give our talented and competent professional naval architects the boost they need to provide a new regulatory framework which is attuned to the latest international practices and standards," Trillanes said. (Pilar S. Macrohon)

News Latest News Feed