Cong Gonzalez bats for approval of House Bill 1115

Congressman  Fernando V. Gonzalez, third congressional district of Albay, and vice chairman of the house committee on transportation yesterday batted for the approval of House Bill 1115 to further develop the growth of  the Philippine maritime industry.

Presiding over  the  house committee on transportation, Gonzalez at the same time acknowledged that the maritime industry is highly privatized, and therefore he said, it is important that this sector should actively participate in the deliberations leading to the final approval of the bill.

He also asked his peers in congress to fully support the bill for the improvement of the maritime industry.

"The bill, (House Bill No.1115) is an essential bill for the growth of the maritime industry. There is the need to pass it, " Gonzalez said.

He stressed that  there is a general consensus from private and government sector who attended the committee hearing that the bill should be passed.

He asked the representatives of the committee on transportation that they submit their individual position papers regarding the bill adding that maritime laws covers a broad range of subjects.

For one, Coast  Guard Commandant, Wilfrido Tamayo stressed the importance of maritime security during the meeting.

House Bill  1115 was authored by Congressman Rodolfo. G Biazon of the lone district of Muntinlupa City.

It seeks to modify  maritime laws that has been in use for more than two decades.

"There is therefore a compelling need to codify and upgrade Philippine Admiralty Law in order to keep in tune to current situations, circumstances and business practices  of the maritime industry, " said Biazon in an explanatory note preceding the bill.

Biazon lamented the fact that while the maritime laws of other countries are dynamic and attuned to the need of the times, the development and growth of admiralty and maritime law is almost static if not eroded.

"There now a need for all stakeholders, particularly admiralty lawyers, shipowners and those who are involved in the shipping industry to help reform and update the country's shipping laws, " Biazon stressed   adding that this bill seeks to update and reform the shipping laws of the Philippines and codify the same into one code, "The Maritime Code of the Philippines."

Gonzalez as vice chairman of the  house' transportation committee is no stranger to maritime laws.He has been operations manager-lighterage of Luzon Stevedoring Corp. operations manager of the Jeddah Port in Saudi Arabia, and among others as consultant of   Razon International Stevedoring.