Maritime sector urged to protect marine environment, resources

Maritime sector urged to protect marine environment, resources
Myla Iglesias - July 17, 2024 https://malaya.com.ph/news_business/maritime-sector-urged-to-protect-mar...

Volunteers pick up trash along the shore of Manila Bay on International Coastal Cleanup Day in Pasay City. (Reuters Photo)
The Department of Transportation yesterday urged the maritime sector to calibrate its projects and align with those from government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs) to protect the country’s marine environment and resources.

“The Philippine Coast Guard, Maritime Industry Authority, and Philippine Ports Authority should take a cue from Oceana how to calibrate projects that impact the marine environment,” Jaime Bautista transportation secretary said during the launch of the Mangroves Photo Exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History.

The transport chief stressed that a collective approach is needed to protect Philippine marine resources.

“Everyone has a stake in this. We are the biggest stakeholders in the endeavor. We share that responsibility for future generations,” he said.

DOTr has projects supporting the Blue Economy under the Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP) 2028 which includes transport safety and security, environmental sustainability, digitalization, domestic and overseas shipping industries, maritime workforce, and administration governance system.

The maritime blueprint is also expected to establish a system that will help lessen the effects of natural and man-made eventualities while preparing contingencies for the sector.

In a related development, DOTr lauded the United Nations-Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC’s) adoption of a resolution to protect seafarer rights.

“We welcome the adoption of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UN-HRC) resolution protecting and promoting human rights enjoyed by almost two million seafarers globally, including more than a quarter of Filipino seafarers,” DOTr said in a statement.

“With this resolution, the government will be able to advance the rights and interests of Filipino seafarers who have been acclaimed as the country’s primary economic propellers,” DOTr said.