Building a Blue Economy (3)
Proponents are looking into the use of solar-powered vessels
Still on the last meeting of the Coalition for Agricultural Modernization in the Philippines that discussed Blue Economy, we provided the group led by its chairman, former University of the Philippines president
Dr. Emil Javier, and its president, Dr. Eufemio Rasco Jr., on how can this be viewed at the micro level and the initial gains we have achieved, so far.
As we have mentioned earlier, the Philippine Association of Coastal and Inland Water Ferries Inc. recently became a member of the Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance, a group of providers of various renewable energy technologies that can be applied to ferry and fishing vessels to be built at the IMP Shipyard and Port Services in Albuera, Leyte.
Also, to support the decarbonization drive in the Philippines, we are in talks with various suppliers of energy efficient and eco-friendly alternative ship propulsion system such as all-electric and solar powered ship propulsion system.
We have discussions with Swedish company, Danfoss Engineering, for the supply of electric propulsion system suitable for short-distance sailing that is now being used by ferries in Bangkok.
Also, NAVALT, an eco-marine technology company based in Cochin, India that specializes in the manufacture of solar electric vessels, has expressed interest to provide technical assistance to IMP Shipyard for the technology transfer of solar powered boats.
As for the development of the Albuera fish port, we had initial discussion with the mayor for possible joint venture in the development of the fish port under the Local Economic Enterprise program.
We are also talking with Philippine Fisheries Development Authority and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for advice and assistance.
We however see some challenges in establishing the town’s fisherfolk cooperative. We found that Albuera’s existing fisherfolk association is dysfunctional. There is a need to re-organize it into a cooperative, but capacity building for members may take some time.
Hence, we are considering offering the operation of new commercial fishing vessel to an existing fishing company in the area thru outright purchase or charter hire or establishing new fishing company together with investors from the Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines and PACIWFI, then train and employ the local fisherfolk in operating the fishing vessel.
The establishment of a fish market cooperative is also a challenge but maybe this can be solved with other option under a social enterprise concept to be initiated by IMP Shipyard. Also during that CAMP meeting, we shared the prospects of making this Albuera project as a template to be replicated in other coastal communities in the country. We recently met with Mayor Nikon Fameronag of Concepcion, Romblon, who requested us to provide the town with steel-hulled mini Ro-Pax vessel to replace its three old wooden boats plying between Concepcion Island and Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro. We agreed to study the request and to design and build a vessel suitable to the needs and sea conditions and ports of the island.
We had initial discussion with the mayor for possible joint venture in the development of the fish port.
It will be a public-private partnership project through the local government’s LEE program with short to medium term gain for investors and long term social, economic and political development impact on the municipality, its residents, and residents of its nearby small island neighbors, Banton and Corcuera, as well as on Romblon province.
We already shared with you the vast potentials of Concepcion, considered as a Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area, for eco-tourism and its rich fishing grounds. Having a safe and efficient water transport system will surely usher many economic activities in Concepcion: the transfer of goods and services, promote its fishing industry and tourism-related businesses in the island.
This shows building modern and affordable ships is vital in bringing economic development especially in GIDAs. We can only achieve this by making local shipbuilders competitive.
Thus, we appeal to the government for tax holidays and other incentives for shipbuilders as contained in the government’s Strategic Investment Priority Plan that identified shipbuilding as one of the investment priorities under the CREATE law.
Responding to our previous column, CAMP Chairman Dr. Javier has started looking at ways how the group can support our initiatives at Albuera. We are elated by the response.
Still, we hope, through CAMP, our appeal will reach PBBM.