Time needed for yacht registration cut at least a year to 5 days —DOTr

The time needed to register yachts with the Maritime Industry Authority has been reduced from almost two years to only five days, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has said.

"They can make a yacht in less than 30 days. Pero para makuha ang lisensya, umaabot nang isang taon,” Tugade said in a statement released Tuesday.

“Sabi natin, baguhin natin 'yan. Kaya 'yan, i-kinodify namin at ni-refine ang process na kung saan 'yung mga licensing ngayon ay mapapabilis na. Now, it will just take five days. From almost two years to five days,” he added. 

The transportation chief also announced the creation of a Registry of Recreational Boats under MARINA at the launch of the Cavite-Manila Ferry Service at the Cavite City Port Terminal.

“For the first time in the history of the country, we have codified what we call the Recreational and Leisure Maritime Vessels Code," Tugade said.

"'Yung mga yate na nakikita ninyo na pumapalaot at tumatakbo ay nagkaroon na po ng codification,” he added.

Recreational boats are vessels up to 150.9 feet or 46 meters or less with a capacity of up to 10 tons of cargo, according to MARINA Circular Number  DS-2019-01.

MARINA further added that recreational vessels are used exclusively for "recreational or tourism development purposes, either commercially or privately."

According to Tugade, aside from ensuring the proper registration of recreational vessel, the registry will also develop the marina and cruise-related projects in the country and lead to the development of the recreational boat-building industry in the country.

“Pahahalagahan natin ang industriya na 'yan, from manufacturing to operation to management. Dalawa lang 'ho ang gagabayan natin: the issue of security and the issue of trust. Once that is done by us, then it will be easy,” Tugade said. —NB, GMA News