Maritime challenges persist

Maritime challenges persist
Atty. Brenda V. Pimentel May 25, 2022 https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/05/25/business/maritime/maritime-challe...

THE discussions at the Manila Times Domestic Shipping Forum held on May 18, 2022 reiterated anew the decades-long issues and challenges faced by the Philippine domestic shipping sector.

The articulation by the Philippine Liner Shipping Association (PLSA) on the industry challenges was the same as that raised back in the 1990s, at all levels of government including Congress, yet nothing much, it appears, had been resolved.

The Manila Times webinar presented another opportunity for the government and industry for a dialogue. The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Administrator VADM Robert Empedrad and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Director Atty. Hiyasmin de los Santos presented impressive government programs which with further elucidation could open and strengthen areas of cooperation between government and the maritime community, specifically the domestic shipping sector.

The sustained efforts of the Marina in formulating the Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP) as mandated under Presidential Decree 474 is indeed a welcome initiative.

Unless there is a whole government approach and until the industry understands and supports the plan, however, it would be difficult to achieve the targets of the MIDP. For industry, the questions revolve around what and how the MIDP can institute policy, legislative and institutional reforms in the domestic shipping sector and thereby come up with the long-awaited answers to the challenges that confront them.

From the government's perspective, embracing a regulatory mindset to promote national development and protect the public dictate the direction in its dealing with industry. Such national objectives are most important if the country is to survive. It is a flawed notion to view industry stakeholders as simply the regulated community from which to exact compliance; on the other hand, industry players should be seen primarily as key partners in achieving national development.

There is a discrete expectation in the forthcoming change of government.

Will the new maritime officials build on the gains achieved by their predecessors or will all these be thrust into the bin to be replaced by new sets of policies and regulations? The national maritime agenda as advocated is expected to ensure the continuance of policies that conforms with the overall maritime objectives and where warranted periodically review and revise those which need to be aligned with such national objectives.

The advocacy of maritime stakeholders for the adoption of a national maritime agenda has grown over the immediate past years albeit did not do much to catch the attention of the government. Congress continues to enact bills that have adverse impacts on the sustainability of local maritime industries, notwithstanding belated compliments of good prospects for the future of the domestic shipping sector.

For the advocates for a national maritime agenda, the passion remains. Will this archipelago harness Sea Power? That remains to be seen.