Manila, Philippines – Isinulong ngayon ng isang baguhang mambabatas ang pagbuhay sa “ship building at ship repair” na ang pangunahing layunin ay makadagdag ng maritime jobs sa bansa.
Binigyang diin ni 1-Tahanan Partylist Rep. Nat Oducado na ang dalawang panukalang kaniyang isinulong ay upang mapatatag pa ang nasabing industriya kabilang ang Ship Recycling sa bansa.
“It’s time to bring maritime jobs home for the sake of our maritime workers and our overall economy,” said Cong. Oducado, who filed HB 2598 the SBSR (Ship Building and Ship repair) Development Bill, and HB 2597 or the Shipyard Fiscal Incentives Bill. “According to OECD and the World Bank estimates, each direct job in shipbuilding creates three to five more indirect jobs, meaning that once fully-implemented, these Bills have the potential to generate up to 100,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide.”
Sinabi ni Oducado na ang SBSR Development Bill ay magbibigay ng bagong mandato sa DTI, DOST, DOLE, at TESDA na suportahan ang nabanggit na industriya maging research at development ng SBSR industry sa Pilipinas.
“Through these Bills, we will create jobs in upskilled shipbuilding labor, support services, vocational training, supply chains, and coastal community development industries. With over 578,000 Filipino seafarers deployed worldwide, the Philippines has the potential to lead not just in seafaring, but in the maritime industry as a whole,” banggit pa ng kongresista.
Samantala, inaamiendahan naman ng Shipyard Industry Fiscal Incentives Bill ang fiscal policy ngbansa at nagbibigay ng insentibo sa mga kompanyang mag-iinvest sa industriya ng SBSR kabilang ang exemptions sa pagbabayad ng Value-Added Tax (VAT) at iba pang buwis na ipinapataw sa Imported Capital Equipment and Materials at magsusulong din ang panukalang ito sa tax credit sa mga kagamitan bilang capital, at tax incentives sa Green Projects.
Ayon kay Oducado, ang panukalang ito ay umani ng suporta mula sa mga pangunahing ahensya gaya ng Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).
“We are always glad when Representatives of the People step up to become champions of our local maritime industry. These Bills send a positive signal to both local and international shipbuilders that the Philippines is ready to be a leading destination for SBSR,” ang naunang pahayag ni MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan.
Sa panig naman ni MARINA Domestic Shipping Service Director Luisito Santos ay sinabi niyang “a developed SBSR industry will create a positive ripple effect, bolstering the domestic shipping sector’s capacity to support agriculture, manufacturing, national defense and inter-island trade. It will also enhance disaster resilience and national food and supply chain security.” (Meliza Maluntag)
