MANILA — “Equal opportunity is not an exception — it should be the norm.” These powerful words from Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Sonia Malaluan echoed during the “Ocean of Opportunities for Women” Forum on 16 May 2025, in line with the celebration of the International Day for Women in Maritime.

“This International Day for Women in Maritime, we urge women to claim their space — on deck, in the engine room, at the command bridge, and in the boardrooms of maritime organizations,” said Administrator Malaluan in her keynote address.

The event brought together key women leaders — Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Rear Admiral (RADM) Mitzie Silva-Campo; Asian Institute of Maritime Studies (AIMS) Dean Dr. Rhogin Giner; Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Manager of Port Operations & Services Atty. Ma. Hiyasmin Delos Santos; Women in Maritime Philippines (WIMAPHIL) Board Director Arhleen Romero; and MARINA Overseas Shipping Service (OSS) Director Precila Jara. Each offered insights into the challenges they’ve overcome, the progress already made, and the vast potential that remains untapped for women in maritime.

During the Forum, women leaders emphasized the importance of systemic support, mentorship, and institutional reforms to ensure more women can access and thrive in maritime careers.

Capping the celebration, MARINA Deputy Administrator for Operations Engr. Nannette Villamor-Dinopol addressed the next generation of maritime women: “Babae, may kakayahan ka, may boses ka, may magagawa ka.”

Long dominated by men, the maritime sector is now steering toward a future anchored on inclusivity, innovation, and gender equality. Women leaders in the industry called on more women to pursue leadership roles, enter technical fields, and contribute their expertise and perspective to an evolving global industry.

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