Articles by Karl M Garcia

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Roadmaps and Programs – Part 1 of 4

Roadmaps are very important in setting the direction of every organization. But what is a roadmap? Austin (2013) defines a roadmap as a document that establishes a plan for accomplishing a particular strategic goal and describes why the goal is in place. The basic road map includes a charter, strategy and an assessment tool. Some people believe that roadmaps or…


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The Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers

The proposed Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers is designed to provide comprehensive protection for seafarers before, during, and after employment especially in the event of maritime accidents, pandemics or epidemics, or other natural or manmade disasters. It codifies the rights of seafarers into a single reference law. Who are the seafarers in the Magna Carta. This Act shall cover Filipino…


The Whole of Nation Approach to the Blue Economy

First of all, I am thankful to be a member of the prestigious Maritime League and being able to attend its Maritime Forum where I have exchanged notes or opinions with some of its members, either through the Forum or private messages. I am very honored to have exchanged notes with no other than the Former Associate Chief Justice Tony…


Maritime Pollution, Maritime Threats, and Protection of the Maritime Environment

For decades, dynamite or blast fishing and cyanide fishing has been destroying our coral reefs , but up to this day it is still widespread though there are efforts to build artificial reefs in the Philippines,  the root cause  must still be eradicated. CORAL REEFS ANNIHILATION         Cyanide fishing is harmful. “It is a deadly poison not only to people…


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Maritime Legislation

According to Atty Brenda Pimentel:         “It is unfortunate that in this archipelago, there is no overarching policy direction that binds into a cohesive maritime aspiration. The fisheries sector, maritime transport industry, coastal tourism, recreational sector, marine environment protection and many more ocean-based activities are undertaken almost exclusively by each other, although at times it is submitted, collaboration is initiated….



South China Sea Disputes – A Zero Sum Undertaking

Conflicting island and Maritime claims are the subject matters for the South China Sea (SCS) territorial disputes. The sovereign states involved are some ASEAN nations; outside ASEAN would be Taiwan and China. An estimated 3.37 Trillion worth of global trade passes though SCS annually which accounts for a third of the global maritime trade 80mpercent of China’s energy imports and…


Our National Security Interests

National Security Policy 2017-2022 is a declaration of the government’s commitment to continuously develop a national security system that is rules-based, able to effectively respond not only to security threats but also to opportunities beneficial to the national interest. Enhancing the process, scope, and organizational cohesiveness of the national security system is imperative for the Government, with the support of…


Some Observations on Philippine Maritime Education

The pandemic was really a disruptive game-changer. Even before the pandemic sent home most of our seafarers in 2020; their number has been dwindling the years prior. From close to 470,000 in 2019 it dropped 54% in 2020 to about 217,000. Deployment in 2018 dropped by more than 100,000. While the number of Philippine seafarers is dwindling, the number of…


Safety of Life at Sea

In my previous contributions to the Maritime Review, I highlighted the importance of an all-government approach to national security in updating a National Defense and Act. In my second contribution which was about Maritime Governance and administration, I highlighted the fragmentation of our various agencies and recommended amending the executive order that created the Coast Watch System, and updating the…


Strengthening our Inter-Agency Cooperation to protect our National Interests

Introduction. The lack of maritime domain awareness and lack of expertise among countries in managing their maritime domain has allowed proliferation of lawlessness and crime on the seas. Organized crime and terrorism have become interconnected and more complex. A Philippine flag flutters from BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated Philippine Navy ship that has run aground since 1999 and became a…


AMENDING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE ACT [NDA]: PHILIPPINE NAVY

In his inaugural speech as FOIC PN, VADM Giovanni Carlo J Bacordo highlighted 3 priority programs, namely: boost the capacity of the Naval Sea Systems Command; implement skills specialization for its personnel; and lastly, to modernize the mindset of every sailor and marine.[1] In this connection, Commander Jay Tristan Tarriela PCG, in an article at the Diplomat, averred that until…