PASAY CITY — The meaningful celebration for this year’s Maritime Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo) has officially started with a pristine trade exhibition.
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) through its Shipyards Regulation Service (SRS) and the new internally created Marine Environment Protection Development Service (MEPDS) in coordination with Maritime League and Department of Transportation (DOTr) hosted the first-ever Blue Economy Annual Trade and Conference (BEACON 2023) from 06 – 08 September 2023.
With the theme “Philippine Blue Economy: Insights and Foresights,” BEACON 2023 sought to advance the interests of the country’s maritime sector through information sharing, marine technology exhibits and active participation of concerned government agencies and maritime stakeholders.
During the opening ceremony, Maritime League Inc. President Vice Admiral Eduardo MA R Santos highlighted the importance of blue economy to the general public including those who are doing business or working in the maritime industry. He emphasized that blue economy will also benefit the development of the country’s tourism, shipbuilding, marine transport and fishing sectors among others.
For his part, MARINA Administrator Atty. Hernani Fabia said that BEACON 2023 will not only showcase the current trends and latest developments in the Philippine maritime sector but also in the Oil and Gas and Defense industry. He considered BEACON 2023 as a momentous event that will change the landscape of promoting the said industries in the country to the international community.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary for Maritime Mr. Elmer Francisco Sarmiento enumerated the challenges that the maritime sector is currently facing. He emphasized that the government must harness the potential of the Blue Economy in response to the challenges such as overfishing, environmental degradation and territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea. The Undersecretary also emphasized that the said concept goes beyond traditional economic growth, emphasizing sustainability, conservation, and responsible management of marine resources.
By embracing the concept of Blue Economy, Usec. Sarmiento remains confident that it can secure our future while contributing to global efforts in combating climate change and preserving biodiversity.
Meanwhile, National Coast Watch Council Secretariat Executive Director Undersecretary Edmund Tayao encouraged participants of BEACON 2023 to be the “real stakeholders” of Blue Economy, as it is not only about the economy itself but also in security. With that, Usec. Tayao reiterates that real work can only be done as far as securing our archipelago if the Filipinos know more about the Philippines as a nation particularly its advantages, richness and the reason why the foreigners have always been going to the Philippines.
The opening ceremony of BEACON 2023 was also attended by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu who introduced the Guest of Honor; Philippine Navy (PN) Chief Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr.; Assistant Secretary for Maritime Atty. Julius Yano; MARINA Deputy Administrator for Operations Engr. Nannette Villamor- Dinopol; MARINA Deputy Administrator for Planning Ms. Sonia Malaluan and other officials from the government and private sector.