Operationalization and Funding Responsibilities
- The MARINA Administrator is mandated to include the operationalization of the Maasin City Extension Office in the agency’s programs immediately.
- Funding for the Extension Office’s operations is to be appropriated through the annual General Appropriations Act.
Rulemaking Authority and Implementation
- The Secretary of Transportation, through the MARINA Administrator, shall issue necessary rules and regulations to facilitate the effective implementation of this conversion.
- These rules must be promulgated within sixty (60) days from the law’s effectivity date.
Effectivity and Publication Requirements
- The law becomes effective fifteen (15) days after its publication.
- Publication must be done either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation to inform the public.
Important Procedural Details
- The law originated from the House of Representatives and was passed by both legislative chambers on January 20, 2021, and January 31, 2022, respectively.
- The President approved the law on April 29, 2022.
This Act ensures improved maritime authority services in Southern Leyte and neighboring municipalities by upgrading the status of the MARINA office, formalizing its funding, and establishing a clear regulatory framework for its operations.