The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) is finalizing priority programs and projects under its 10-year Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP), which aims to transform the Philippines into a major maritime hub.
“While it may be true that we [did] have plans in the past, those are either short or indefinite plans that do not sufficiently reflect the mandate of the Marina as maritime administration. As part of it, we have to commit and adhere by its mandate pursuant to the objectives of its creation, which is to prepare and annually update a ten-year maritime industry development program that contains a rational and integrated development of the maritime industry,” Marina Planning and Policy Service (PPS) director Emmanuel Carpio said in a statement.
Crafting of the roadmap is pursuant to Section 5 of Presidential Decree No. 474, otherwise known as the Maritime Industry Decree of 1974, which states that the maritime agency should create master plans for the industry.
Completing the MIDP is also part of Marina administrator Rey Leonardo Guerrero’s 14-point agenda, which includes his priority programs.
The MIDP will cover all sectors governed by Marina, namely, maritime administration, domestic shipping, overseas shipping, maritime manpower, and shipbuilding and ship repair, as well as encompass new categories—maritime cruise, logistics, shipping and fishing.
Marina said its technical working groups reviewed and finalized the priority programs and projects, with detailed results frameworks highlighting the impacts, indicators, and target outcomes relative to the planned establishment of the maritime industrial hub, Marina’s role in developing the Philippine nautical system as well as to the country’s coastal and inland waterways, fishing, maritime tourism, maritime safety, maritime security, and maritime information and communication.
Relevant laws and supporting policies, key stakeholders including government agencies, maritime-related industries, and academic institutions, as well as their roles in implementing the MIDP were also clearly defined.
Moreover, Marina said it consulted the maritime riding public while formulating the MIDP to ensure that all programs and projects under the roadmap are responsive to the travelers’ needs.
Marina-PPS will present the draft MIDP primer to the Marina management for further refinement in the third week of this month.
The MIDP’s goals include strengthening Marina’s leadership to transform the Philippines into a major maritime nation. The master plan also aims to accelerate and expand domestic shipping services; build modern seaworthy ships through a globally competitive shipbuilding, ship repair, and ship breaking industry; adhere to international obligations and responsibilities and transform them into national laws; and promote and develop the Philippines as a human resource capital for ship management and maritime services. – Roumina Pablo
