Marina 7 to build office on prov’l lot

The term of the usufruct with the Capitol is 50 years starting from the signing of the contract and renewable for another 50 years Marina official says construction of own building is justified since office here in Cebu issued 100T seafarers ID books in l

THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) 7 will soon have its own building on a 2,000-square-meter lot that the Capitol owns in Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City.

Gov. Hilario Davide III and Marina Administrator Maximo Mejia Jr. signed a contract of usufruct last week for the construction of the four-story structure.

This will be the first Marina regional office to be built in the country, as regional offices usually lease.

According to the contract, the term of usufruct is for 50 years beginning from the signing of the document and renewable for another 50 years “subject to agreement of both parties.”

“The Marina shall take possession of the above described property within one year from the signing hereof and shall undertake the construction of its regional office and other facilities within two years from the execution of this contract of usufruct,” the contract reads.

If Marina fails to follow this provision, the contract will be automatically terminated without further notice by the Province.

Budget secured

In his speech, Davide said Angkla Party-list Rep. Jesulito Manalo secured P65 million from the national budget to build the Marina 7 office.

The governor said he hopes seafarers will no longer have to travel to Manila to process and follow up papers.

He said the groundbreaking may happen in the first quarter of next year.

With the new building, Manalo said, seafarers will save on transportation costs and will have more time with their loved ones.

“Marina cannot absorb all works for all the seafarers (which is) a million all over the Philippines to register in a place in Manila that will deprive them of their time from their families and spending a lot of cost,” he said.

During his presentation, he said the regional office issued 100,000 seafarers identification books in the last four years.

Manalo said close to 20,000 maritime students graduate in seven maritime schools in the province every year.

Because of this, Manalo said, the need for Marina 7’s own building in Cebu is justified.

Mejia, for his part, thanked the Capitol, saying they only asked for 1,000 square meters.

“We will put this to a very good use and again we would like to express wholeheartedly our thanks,” he said.