Philippines needs to establish single maritime body

International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu recently concluded an official two-day visit to the Philippines. He pledged IMO’s support for the country’s maritime development during his talks with President Benigno Aquino III and other top officials of the country.

According to lawyer Nick Conti, Deputy Administrator of Maritime Industry Authority, who was interviewed during Radyo Inquirer’s  Seafarer’s Hour with Capt. Ronaldo Enrile, Vice President for Operations of Philippine Trans Marine Carriers,  Sekimizu’s visit was significant because it was his first country visit since he assumed the organization’s top post on Jan. 1, 2012.

Conti said Sekimizu promised IMO’s support for the Philippines’ efforts to formulate a national maritime transport strategy, which would serve as a springboard for the consolidation of maritime clusters in the country, comprising seafaring, ship building and repair, and ship management.

Maritime industry stakeholders have been pushing a genuine single maritime administration (SMA). This would address the overlapping of

functions of agencies, said Conti.

There are more than 13 agencies involved in seafarer administration in the country.

Capt. Rodolfo Aspillaga, President of Masters and Mates Association of the Philippines  and Secretary Captain Edwin Itable said this set up is cumbersome, laborious and prone to errors or problems.

Bantay OCW together with our partners OSM President Rear Admiral Adonis Donato, Kabalikat ng Marino President Leo Santiago, Capt. Edwin Itable, Capt. Ronaldo Enrile and Dennis Gorecho, also calls for the creation  of SMA. As a major seafaring country, we need to  get out act together.

Susan Andes, a.k.a. Susan K is on board at RADYO INQUIRER 990 DZIQ AM, Monday to Friday, 7:00-8:30 p.m. with audio/video live streaming: www.dziq.am. CityHotlines:  535 7209/  881 9423/  0920.968.4700.   E-mail   [email protected] / [email protected]