New maritime routes, better opportunities – Bong Go

New maritime routes, better opportunities – Go
October 2, 2018 https://www.manilatimes.net/new-maritime-routes-better-opportunities-go/...

DAVAO CITY: Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go urged seafarers to explore new routes in order to open more opportunities for the country’s marine industry.

“I encourage all of you to study the possibility of opening new routes for our ships to speed up the freight delivery,” Go said in his speech during the Mindanao Maritime Industry Forum held here on Monday.

“One of the possibilities is the improvement of the process to shorten the sea travel time or freight deliveries to another island or country,” he added.

Go said improvements in the maritime routes would strengthen the tourism industry and result in the country’s development.

The forum discussed maritime safety, security and environmental protection in the context of maritime industry development in the island of Mindanao.

Go was instrumental in the signing of Executive Order No. 63 by President Rodrigo Duterte on September 21 that strengthens the mandate of Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) as the Single Maritime Administration, ensuring the obligations of the Philippines under the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers.

He said government was ready to allot enough funds for the betterment of infrastructure that would benefit the maritime industry.