We are on MARSEC Level 1

The Maritime Transportation Security Bureau (MTSB) is one of the six (6) bureaus under the Office for Transportation Security (OTS).  Pursuant to paragraph  (b) Section 1 of Executive Order 311 dated 26 April 2004 issued by the President of the Republic of the Philippines, MTSB is specifically mandated to insure that the International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code is implemented and that a National Maritime Security Program is formulated, developed and implemented.

Based from the foregoing two specific mandates, MTSB has been implementing ISPS Code since July 2004.  All Philippine registered vessels engaged in international trade have been required to conduct ship security assessment and correspondingly adopt ships security plans.  As of 15 April2010, all Philippine registered ships engaged in international trade, with a total number of 169 are compliant to the required International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC). As regards to the ships engaged in domestic trade, out of 984 ships, 202 are compliant to the required National Ship Security Certificate (NSSC).  MTSB has also issued accreditation certificates to some international classification society as a recognized security organization to act on behalf of the OTS (administration) to conduct security assessment, security survey, approved security plan and issue ISSC to ships engage in international trade.  As of 20 January 2010 the following are the IACS members duly accredited by OTS as RSO: American Bureau of Shipping (ABS); Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NKK); and Det Norske Veritas (DNV). MTSB have also issued Statement of Compliance of a Port Facility (SCPF) to a total of 129 (105 International & 24 Domestic) port facilities as of 15 April 2010.

For the second mandate, MTSB has already formulated a National Maritime Security Program (Programme) and it was approved by the Secretary, DOTC last 07 February 2007.  After approval of the Programme, MTSB has embarked a massive information drive to disseminate the Programme to all key stakeholders in the Maritime Transportation Industry.  MTSB sent letters with flyers about the Programme to individual ship and port facility operators throughout the country to make them fully aware about the Programme and their respective shared responsibilities in enhancing security in our maritime transportation system.  The Programme is also uploaded in this Website.

MTSB through the invaluable support of the government of Australia through Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS) has conducted numerous trainings, seminars and workshops throughout the country on ISPS Code related courses and topics.  As of 28 February 2009, a total of 4,001 participants who are mostly personnel of PPA, PCG and MARINA and from the shipping industry have benefited from the port and ship security capacity building initiative. 

MTSB is currently in the massive campaign for the effective implementation of the Programme in close coordination with the various sectors who are stakeholders in the maritime transportation industry.