The initiatives and goals of the maritime sector anchored on the Maritime Industry Development Plan continue to gain momentum following the Bagong Pilipinas Townhall Meeting of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Maritime Sector as part of the agency’s 125th Founding Anniversary celebration Tuesday, 6 February 2024, in Davao City.

“I urge our maritime agencies and stakeholders to anchor their initiatives to this Maritime Industry Development Plan that should serve as road map, or rather as sea map, binding together our individual efforts. I have tasked the Department’s attached maritime agencies to consistently follow the principles of the Blue Economy Framework through initiatives aligned with the formulation and dynamics of the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework,” DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said during the event.

Secretary Bautista also urged everyone to follow and align their goals into four focus areas such as; (1) construction and upgrade of social tourism ports, farm-to-market ports, expansion of a nautical highway system, (2) creating a more modernized Philippine Coast Guard, (3) lower logistics costs and streamline government processes, and (4) provide a world-class maritime education and training for Filipino seafarers.

During the town hall, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), and Cebu Port Authority (CPA), shared their agencies’ significant accomplishments and also presented their future projects and programs to further improve inter-island mobility and propel socio-economic activities.

“It is time that we make the PHILIPPINE MARITIME INDUSTRY a TOP PRIORITY. Let us harmonize all our efforts and make a commitment to provide better opportunities for our fellow Filipinos, to build a more progressive, sustainable and resilient maritime sector,” Sec. Bautista highlighted during his speech.

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