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The biggest group of shipping operators in the country has expressed hopes that the national government would help them improve the maritime sector as promised by President Marcos during a summit last week.
Lucio Lim Jr., chair of the Philippine Coastwise Shipping Association (PCSA), said prioritizing the maritime industry was long overdue as there’s much to improve on in the sector, including the creation of more shipyards and the need to enhance the training of seafarers.
“We very much welcome the statement of the President. (However), right now, we could say that we still lack enough buttons. We need more shipyards. There’s also a need to develop more and better ports, and of course, our seafarers’ training should also be attended to,” Lim told the Inquirer over the phone on Wednesday, March 8.
“We’re happy that the President is asking the Department of Transportation to focus on the maritime industry because we are a maritime-dependent nation. There was a plan to have a Department of Maritime during the previous administration. That could be a welcome development,” he added.
PCSA has around 50 members who own 800 ships, tankers, tugboats, and barges, among others, all over the country.
Meneleo Carlos III, chairman of the Shipyard Association of the Philippines (ShAP) said the national government should address the past experiences of some of their members being denied business permits due to the whims of some local officials and subjected to unnecessary red tape and other barriers to development.
