THE 10-year plan for the shipping industry will be anchored on an increase in shipbuilding and repair yard capacity, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said on Monday.
The department said in a statement that Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Timothy John R. Batan met with officials of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) on Nov. 18 to discuss the 10-year Maritime Development Plan.
The plan also calls for technology upgrades for the shipping industry, the development and expansion of shipping and maritime tourism routes, the improvement of maritime education and training, and upgrades to safety, security, and environmental protection practices.
“Updates are currently being undertaken by the Marina to align with the eight-point priority economic agenda of the Marcos administration,” the DoTr said.
The 10-year plan is expected to be fully implemented in 2028, with a goal of elevating the industry’s contribution to gross domestic product to P1.44 trillion from P720 billion.
On Nov. 13, Marina announced that it signed a memorandum of agreement with France to strengthen the shipping industry.
The deal focuses on maritime safety, security and shipbuilding and ship repair, Marina said in a statement.
Under the agreement, the French government will deploy a maritime expert to the Philippines to provide technical assistance, training, and consultancy services.
The Philippines is the fifth-largest shipbuilding nation in the world, according to 2020 estimates.
“Philippine registered vessels stand at about 29,974, comprising 4,114 large merchant vessels and 25,860 motor bancas/boats and fishing bancas/boats. Of the merchant fleet, passenger ships number 11,898. Excluding the pandemic years, over 72 million passengers per year were carried by sea vessels,” Marina said. — Arjay L. Balinbin