Marine transportation is important because of the archipelagic nature of the Philippines, its strategic location in Southeast Asia, and the contribution of the sector's different components to the economy. Safety at sea is of critical concern, given the numerous disasters that have occurred in Philippine waters. While the policy framework is adequately addressed by existing government agencies, some glaring gaps, such as the need to process and improve available information on sea states regularly, the seaworthiness of outrigger boats or bancas, and the implications of the preference of Filipino crew for work overseas, among other issues, are discussed in the paper.