TIM eMagazine Vol.1 Issue 4
Maritime
agenda
pushed
With a wide range of expert speakers and
participants, the Ballroom at Shangri-La Mactan, the
venue of the conference, became one giant dynamic
conversation platform. One delegate commented:
“There’s something distinctive about this conference
compared to other seminars. I like the fact that the
delegates ask questions rather than giving self-serving
speeches.”
With the comprehensive presentation of topics and
thought-provoking discourses, the delegates appreciated
that timeliness and relevance of the conference. One
delegate said: “The conference is very educational. The
topics are very relevant and push us to look to new ways
to improve the maritime industry.”
“The conference gives us information about the
challenges in the industry. It’s a great calling not to be
laid back but to move forward,” added another delegate.
Government leaders, regulators, ship owners,
manning agencies, maritime training professionals,
educational institutions, and other interest groups
attended the conference.
The Royal Norwegian Embassy – Manila, Norwegian
Maritime Foundation of the Philippines and Philippines
Norway Business Council were the organizers of the
conference.
Currently, there are more than 25,000 Filipino
seafarers on board Norwegian owned or controlled
vessels at any time, which benefit both nations.
Thousands of Filipino seafarers receive decent work and
training while Norwegian companies employ a worldclass workforce for their ships around the world.
ScandAsia.com
M
aritime stakeholders continue to
propose inclusion of “maritime
agenda” as solution to the country’s
development problems as the 2016
national elections near.
Proponents led by the Movement for
Maritime Philippines (MMP) had been trying hard to
push maritime agenda to the five candidates vying for
presidency of the country.
Most recently, the Joint Manning Group composed
of five major manning agency groups, had held a forum
with candidates Mayor Rody Duterte and Senator Alan
Peter Cayetano.
Much earlier, the MMP published a full page “call to
action” (Panawagan) in a major broadsheet. It stressed
the “archipelagic nature” of the country and pushed for
maritime-oriented development to achieve higher level
of economic progress. That call to action was signed by
more than 18 maritime organizations and reports had it
that more groups are coming to support the initiative.
Ms. Doris Magsaysay-Ho, former leader of the
Philippine Interisland Association, has said that as an
archipelago, maritime has a lot of to do in our country’s
economic development. She recalled that APEC has
been apprised of initiatives of the Philippines in the
maritime sector and she was optimistic that we can be
in for major role in ASEAN Integration in the coming
months. She also disclosed that a maritime road map
is being updated to serve as the master plan in the
development of the economy.
She said the Philippines being number one in
seafarer supply, can also excel in shipbuilding, ship
management, and maritime education and training
among others.
For Angkla Partylist, in tandem with the private
sectors and Government, is trying to push a bill that
will further reform the Philippine Registry of Ships, so
that more ship owners would registering vessels with us
with the added advantage of being able to employ more
Filipino seafarers onboard their ships.
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