Create nat’l maritime agenda, FMJ urged
By Nidz Godino
“If we have national maritime agenda, all agencies will have to align with these objectives…they will not just develop their own policy independent of others…everything will then fall into place,” International Maritime Organization (IMO) east asia former regional coordinator Brenda Pimentel said in an interview Philippines is an archipelagic country with good seafaring status, but it lacks national maritime agenda.
She urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to create maritime agenda that will align industry objectives and support his administration’s plan to develop infrastructure.
She stressed former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. issued national maritime policy through Presidential Decree (PD) 474 on June 1, 1974. It reorganized maritime functions in the country by creating Maritime Industry Authority (Marina). The Marina linked various islands through sea transport and enhanced competitive position of Philippine flag vessels in foreign trade.
“The convenors of the Movement for Maritime Philippines are pushing for national maritime agenda… I hope the President realizes that PD 474, issued by his father, already talked of national maritime policy… I hope we can look back to that,” Pimentel said.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte promoted country’s maritime agenda through issuance of Proclamation 316 declaring September as Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month. The proclamation helped boost maritime awareness among public and government.
When he was campaigning for president,President Marcos Jr. talked of modernizing the country’s port system and developing the Philippines as a shipping and logistics center by liberalizing foreign ownership of public utilities and bringing investments.
“There should be a paradigm shift…planning should not be limited only to shipyards and ports…we can only do that if we have national maritime agenda,” she said.
Pimentel said coherent maritime agenda can further protect interests of poor maritime communities, such as fishermen.
“Their livelihood is threatened by ballast water coming from international vessels that are calling in Philippine ports,” she observed.
Ballast water is made up of fresh or salt water pumped into a ship’s ballast tanks to provide stability during voyage. It is often taken from coastal waters of one region and discharged at the next port of call.
“There is a possibility that our fish are eaten by invasive species brought here by the ballast water of ships,” she concluded.
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