The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is offering its technical know-how to the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) to help boost the Philippines’ shipbuilding and ship repair industry.
“I am happy that JICA is taking the initiative to collaborate with us by extending technical assistance and expertise. JICA’s aid will greatly help us in promoting and developing our shipbuilding industry. We are hoping to further improve this relationship for the interest of Japan and Philippine maritime industry,” Marina administrator Rey Leonardo Guerrero said in a statement on August 10, the same day the maritime authority and JICA held a meeting.
JICA senior representative Tetsuya Yamada assured that JICA will continue to extend technical assistance and expertise to Marina in developing standard design for locally made ships, in establishing the Philippines’ first-ever maritime industrial hub, and in setting up a financing facility for local shipbuilders and ship owners.
Furthermore, JICA expressed support for the implementation of Marina’s 10-year Maritime Industry Development Plan, which will guide Marina in making the local shipbuilding and ship repair industry globally competitive and technologically responsive.
Finally, JICA pledged to provide Japanese experts to orient Marina in crafting the retirement criteria for aging domestic ships. To date, Marina is drafting the rules and regulations to address the increasing number of obsolete vessels operating for more than 30 years to further uphold safety and security within Philippine maritime borders.
With these commitments, Marina and JICA intend to attract more investors to support the transformation of the Philippines into a major shipbuilding and ship repair nation.
