MARITIME WATCHKEEPER

WHEN former MARINA admin Victor Suazo Jr. retired from office
recently, immediately my mind flashed back and recalled MARINA’s
previous administrators.
Generoso Tanseco, Victorino Basco, Philip Tuazon, Adm. Pio Garrido, the late Paciencio Balbon, Atty. Oscar Sevilla, Agustin Bengzon, Suazo, etcetera. What is obviously common to them? They are all “boys” and full time administrators during their time. I have covered them except Tanseco and Basco, and had established professional
friendship with them as my gracious source of news and information.
It is different now. Not this time. You have to seek written appointment with OIC admin. Elena Bautista to get her sit for interview. She is always busy in a meeting. She can not be seen in her office and she is tightly guarded by enlisted men from the Philippine Coast Guard. I don’t know if she is afraid of being assassinated or
something? Why those cordon sanitaire?
Ms. Bautista came in as the first lady administrator in history since 1974? and it is the first time in history also that an administrator is reporting to MARINA office at least three times a week or more. It can not be denied that she holds two equally important positions, that of OIC and as the undersecretary at the DOTC. But, is she doing justice to both? Is this good or bad? People are asking.
Why did Malacanang threw Ms. Bautista to MARINA? And why is Malacanang dillydallying on getting a full time administrator for MARINA. I doubt Ms. Bautista will choose MARINA for it will be a demotion for her. And, I doubt Malacanang would appoint her for the position also. She is not an expert in maritime or at least who knows something about maritime business, which is very important for the post. Why appoint her? Is this proof that Malacanang does not consider MARINA a very important post?
The appointment of Ms. Bautista to MARINA is both good and bad, according to some experts. She enjoys the perks of both positions and nothing compares to it. Of course she will be enjoying the salaries of whichever is higher. Is she entitled to honorariums from both positions? We don’t know, but we can be sure, she knows where the money is and she can allocate funds for any kind of project properly justified.
We can symphathize with her nevertheless. She is imprisoned in the demands of both their offices and she can not fulfill them with satisfactory results. What about planning, strategizing and forward looking administration of both offices? Those must have some visions for the transportation and maritime industry? Base on records, an appointment of a parttime administrator is all that bad for MARINA and the whole maritime industry. The position is all hands-on management and if she is not here or there most of the time, she missed opportunities for the development of our people, the sector and the whole country. We are the number one supplier of seafarers in the world. Why delay the seafarer’s seaman’s book in favor of new system that has not been properly consulted, and properly advised to the affected sectors? Delay the seaman’s documents and you reduced the yearly $2B remittances. You delayed the food, clothing, medicine, shelter and hamper the education of the seafarers’ families. Is this not contributing to the suffering of our people?
Malacanang is alienated to most of its people because of this kind of appointment that is not good for the people and the sector. What good does it profit the appointing power if she loses the respect of the world?

Leo J. Santiago