President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday, June 26, urged government agencies and the private sector in the maritime sector to work together in adopting new technologies and upskilling workers for a “future-ready and resilient shipping industry.”
In his speech at the Seafarers Summit in Pasay, Marcos noted the need to identify required skills for the generation of new ships, as well as education and training requirements for seafarers amid the “huge transformation” in the industry.
“To facilitate this shift, there is a need for the shipping industry to adapt and integrate new developments into their fleets, starting with the retooling of existing ships and the building of newer and more modern ships equipped with these new technologies,” President Marcos Jr. said.
“Of course, another central part of this change necessarily includes investing in a highly qualified and well-trained workforce that will build, maintain and man the shipping vessels and sail towards other opportunities,” he added.
Marcos reiterated his directive to the Maritime Industry Authority and the Commission on Higher Education on the upskilling and reskilling of seafarers and their preparations for vessels’ shift to green ammonia between 2030 to 2040.
He noted the need to identify strategies to meet the demands of the industry, which is “expected to significantly increase by the year 2050.”
“With all hands on deck, we must come together to envision and shape the future of the industry and global trade for the next 25 years,” he said.
Meanwhile, he vowed for the continued strengthening of maritime-related policies to protect seafarers and their dependents, as he recognized the contributions of more than half a million Filipino seafarers. AG –cf
