Marina finalizing 10-year maritime industry roadmap

To transform the Philippines into a major maritime nation, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) is now finalizing priority programs and projects under the 10-year Maritime Industry Development Program (MIDP) — a major component of the Marina’s 14-point agenda for 2018.

The MIDP is in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 474 which created the Marina to prepare a maritime industry development plan addressing all the key concerns of the local maritime sector, according to Marina Planning and Policy Service (PPS) Director Emmanuel Carpio.

“While we had plans in the past, those are either short or indefinite plans that do not reflect the mandate of the Marina as maritime administration," he pointed out.

The Marina's true mandate is to prepare and annually update a 10-year maritime industry development program containing a rational and integrated development of the maritime industry, the Marina-PPS Director underscored.

Already, the Marina technical working groups reviewed and finalized priority programs and projects highlighting the impact, indicators and target outcome for establishing a maritime industrial hub.

The working group also covered the Marina’s role in developing the Philippine nautical system as well as the country’s coastal and inland waterways, fishing, maritime tourism, maritime safety, maritime security, along with maritime information and communication.

They also defined relevant laws and supporting policies, key stakeholders including government agencies, maritime-related industries, and academic institutions, as well as their roles in the implementation of the MIDP.

In addition, the Marina consulted the general riding public using maritime transport to ensure that all programs and projects under it are in response to their needs.

Next week, the Marina-PPS will present the draft MIDP primer to the Marina Management for further refinement.