Tag: Philippines

Philippines ratification marks global milestone for decent work for seafarers

MLC 2006 ratified and the race is now on

Philippines completes cast of 30 ratifying the Maritime Labour Convention

The government is pursuing prospects for new shipbuilding projects The government is pursuing prospects for new shipbuilding projects from Japan after the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) conducted an investment mission there where they met interested Japanese shipbuilders.DTI Undersecretary for trade and investment promotions group Cristino L. Panlilio told reporters they gathered some prospects for new shipbuilding projects during its meeting with members of the Japanese Shipbuilders Association.According to Panlilio, the Japanese shipbuilders have been encouraged by the successful operation of Tsuneishi Corp. in its Philippine operation under its local unit Heavy Industries (Cebu), Inc. (THICI) and Keppel Shipyard."Different provinces have offered sites for shipbuilding projects. Of course, Subic Freeport still has enough land in the Redondo Bay to accommodate other shipbuilders," Panlilio said.Tsuneishi employs about 11,000 people and now building huge cargo ships of about 180,000 tons.Tsuneishi is one of the medium-sized shipbuilders in the world. It leads several shipbuilding companies operating in Cebu.Recently, Tsuneishi invested P12 billion to expand its existing Cebu operations to include the manufacture of all types of cargo vessels and generate 3,000 new jobs opportunities.The biggest shipbuilding operation in the country is Korea's Hanjin Heavy Industries, which has put up a shipbuilding operation ...

The Maritime Industry Authority has recently finalized the implementing rules and regulations of Executive Order no. 75, averting the delisting of the Philippines in the International Maritime Organization's White List.

Manila faces an escalating dispute with China The US military said Tuesday it planned to help the Philippines monitor its coastal waters as Manila faces an escalating dispute with China over territorial claims.The Pentagon revised earlier comments and said there was no firm plan to deliver a land-based radar to the Philippines, but that a radar could be part of future assistance."We are in the initial planning stages of assisting the Philippines with a National Coast Watch Center," Major Catherine Wilkinson told AFP.The center is designed "to create an overall picture of what is going on in the Philippines' territorial waters," she said."Right now we are discussing a range of options and no details have been finalized. Radars may be an eventual part of the package but it hasn't been determined yet."The cost and the time line for the project were still being worked out, she said.The Philippines has requested radar, patrol aircraft and naval vessels as it seeks to bolster its position in a row with China over the Scarborough Shoal, which lies near the main Philippine island of Luzon.China claims the area along with virtually all of the South China Sea up to the shores of other Southeast ...

More Chinese ships are at the disputed Scarborough Shoal area The Philippines says more Chinese ships are at the disputed Scarborough Shoal area, despite ongoing talks on the row.A statement from the Foreign Ministry said the vessels included five government ships as well as dozens of fishing and utility boats.The Philippines currently has two vessels there.The two countries, both of which claim the area, have been locked in a stand-off since April.On Monday there were five Chinese government vessels, 16 fishing boats and 56 "utility boats" in the area, the Philippine foreign ministry said.The number of utility boats - smaller vessels launched from bigger boats, the coast guard said - went up to 76 on Tuesday, it said.But the ministry said it was still "committed to efforts of defusing the tensions" with China, even as it "expressed grave concern" over the issue to the Chinese embassy in Manila.In Beijing, the foreign ministry dismissed the comments."It is understood that some 20 Chinese fishing boats are operating around Huangyan Island, similar to that of last year," said spokesman Hong Lei."The way they operate is in compliance with the relevant laws in China, as well as China's fishing moratorium order."Both sides imposed fishing ...

1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter The Philippines has formally acceded to the 1996 Protocol to the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, otherwise known as the London Convention.In a report to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Philippine Embassy in London deposited with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) the original Instrument of Accession signed by President Benigno S. Aquino III in a simple ceremony held recently at the organization's headquarters in London.The 1996 Protocol shall be binding on the Philippines effective on June 8, 2012, or 30 days after the deposit of the Instrument of Accession with IMO."With its accession to the 1996 Protocol, the Philippines will now be able to cast its vote in the ongoing discussions in the IMO concerning ocean fertilization and carbon dioxide sequestration in the seabed," Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Enrique Manalo said."These two novel developments have consequential impact on the marine environment and we are thoroughly studying the effect these will have on our marine resources," Manalo added.The London Convention, one of the first international conventions for the protection of the marine ...

Focus on maritime training and education under a single agency, called Marina A single super agency will now be overseeing the improvements and reforms in the maritime industry of the country through a recent executive order signed by President Benigno Aquino III to avoid a European Union ban on Filipino seafarers.The said executive order is considered as a major step in the on-going investigation and assessment of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) which inspected local schools in 2010 and sent an unfavourable report to the European Commission.The Executive Order places all affairs concerning administration of maritime training and education in the Philippines under a single agency that will be known as Marina. This agency will now be responsible in overseeing the training, education and certification activities of the Department of Labor, the Technical Education Skills Development Authority, and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), of which Marina is currently part and headed by its current Secretary Mar Roxas."This is a welcome and well overdue change not only for Filipino seafarers but for crewing agencies as well... One of the problems is that there are so many competing agencies. Putting it all under one umbrella is going to make ...

China has issued fresh warnings to the Philippines China has issued fresh warnings to the Philippines over a month-long stand-off in the South China Sea.China was prepared to respond to "any escalation" in the maritime situation, Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying said.She also warned the Philippines it was making "serious mistakes" and damaging relations.The two countries have accused each other of maritime intrusions into disputed waters at the Scarborough Shoal.China claims sovereignty over a large U-shaped area of the South China Sea, bringing it into dispute with several neighbouring countries.Philippine and Chinese vessels have been facing off at the shoal since 8 April.'Right track'Chinese "government vessels" will "continue to be alert" in the area because of "continuous provocation" by the Philippines, Ms Fu said.The strongly-worded message was delivered in a meeting she called on Monday with Alex Chua, charge d'affaires of the Philippines embassy in China, saida statement posted on Tuesday on the Chinese foreign ministry website."The Chinese side has also made all preparations to respond to any escalation of the situation by the Philippine side," she reportedly said.Ms Fu asked the Philippines to withdraw its ships from the area. "China once again urges the Philippine side to seriously respond ...