January 2019


Fishery Protection: A Challenge to Maritime Forces

With over 2 million square kilometers of coastal and oceanic waters connecting the archipelago, the Philippine fishery is one of the major sources of food and income of the population. This area contains a common property resource – fishery and aquatic – that needs protection for the present and future generations. Recent reports indicate that among the country’s major economic…


PH-US Relations: The Bells of Balangiga and Bauang

The Maritime Forum this January stresses international relations and emphatically the DFA will host the 141st Maritime Forum. As we enter a new year and get closer to the next decade, will there be an improvement in our relations with our erstwhile former closest ally and benefactor? The United States has been the favorite “punching bag” of President Rodrigo Duterte…


Solving Present-Day Challenges Through the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals

About three months ago, I informed the management and readership of Manila Bulletin of the doctor’s advice for me to go on medical leave, which I did starting 19-October-2018, with a request to accommodate for publication in the same column-space any article I might submit from time-to-time, when opportunities arise. Crucial issues have been hounding not just the Philippines but…


Strengthening Our Hydrographic Office to Secure Our Future

This year is a milestone year for the global hydrographic community. 100 years ago or in June 1919, the 1st International Hydrographic Conference was held in London. It marks the beginning towards the creation of an international bureau for hydrography. Today, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is the authoritative worldwide hydrographic body which actively engages all coastal and interested States…


Federalism in Canada: An Observation

I have been going back and forth to Canada for the last 10 years visiting my son’s family, staying in for six to eight months and I have observed and read about how a federal government works. Canada is located on the northern boundary of the of United States which lies in the south of Canada, and extends to the…


Asian Seafaring Nations Announce First Ever Manila Statement on the Fair Treatment of Seafarers

A Regional Meeting of Asia’s leading seafaring nations has highlighted the plight seafarers face in the event of a maritime accident and has pledged to lead the drive towards proper and effective implementation of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labor Organization (ILO) agreed Guidelines on the Fair Treatment of Seafarers. The Regional Meeting, held in Manila on 13-November,…


Procedures: Mooring Line Handling Tips

Mooring and unmooring operations provide the circumstances for potentially serious accidents. There is no doubt that this duty requires a good technique initially in lifting the heavy eye of the rope, followed by a good pulling technique. Care must be taken, therefore with the laying out of heavy mooring ropes and wire ropes/hawsers. Seafarers involved in mooring operations should be…


US Announces Roadmap to Accelerate Offshore Wind

The National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium (Consortium), the first federally funded public-private partnership focused on advancing research and development to accelerate the offshore wind industry in the United States, today announced the release of its first Research and Development Roadmap (Roadmap) to advance offshore wind technology, drive wind innovation and combat climate change. Established in response to industry-led…


The Fjords Announces New Zero Emission Vessel

The Fjords is to add another all-electric, zero emission passenger vessel to its fleet. The Legacy of The Fjords is under construction at Brødrene Aa and will join the hybrid Vision of The Fjords and all-electric Future of The Fjords once complete. Legacy of The Fjords will employ a specially constructed Power Dock, an innovative, floating, charging solution originally designed…


Life Support Systems Design Inside the Submarines

INTRODUCTION The atmospheric characteristics inside the submarine are importantly equal to the submarine’s major ship systems such as propulsions, navigations and sensors, weapons, auxiliaries, etc. A need to ensure an efficient and reliable health and safety of the submarine’s complements and ship machineries from atmospheric pollutants is definitely a must. To achieve and maintain this goal, an atmospheric control system…




The Port of Zamboanga

The Port of Zamboanga is a seaport located in Zamboanga City located in western Mindanao. The international container Port of Zamboanga ranked 2nd in Asia according to the 2010 Super Efficient Ports in Asia study (African Journal of Business Management Vol. 5(4), pp. 1397-1407, 2011). Zamboanga City is the commercial and industrial center of the Zamboanga Peninsula, which faces the…


Taal Lake

The Taal Lake, also known as Talisay Lake and Bombón Lake, is a circular fresh water lake located in the Province of Batangas, in Southern Luzon with over 26,700 hectares. As a child, I frequented my great grandaunt’s house by the ridge of Tagaytay City, overlooking Taal Lake. Every year, I was awestruck by the beauty of Taal Volcano, its…


Philippine Fishery Products Can Now Enter Russia

Philippine fishery products can now enter the Russian market after the conclusion of talks between agriculture officials from the Philippines and Russia on 5-December-2018 in Moscow. Agriculture Undersecretary Waldo R. Carpio said that three Philippine fisheries exporters have been granted accreditation to export fisheries products to Russia. The announcement was made following the first-ever Philippines-Russia Joint Working Group Meeting on…


The Fishing Industry in the Philippines

National Fishery is composed of Commercial, Municipal, and Aquaculture Fishery. The Municipal Fishery sector is composed of Municipal Marine and Municipal Inland Fishery. Aquaculture is composed of Mariculture (Seaweed, Oyster, Mussel), Marine Fish Cage, Marine Fish Pen; Brackishwater Fish Cage, Brackishwater Fish Pen, Brackishwater Fish Pond; Freshwater Fish Cage, Freshwater Fish Pen, Freshwater Fish Pond; Small Farm Reservoir, and Rice…