The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Philippine government's commercial maritime regulatory body, has unveiled its 10-year programme to modernise the country's shipyard industry.
The Maritime Industry Development Program (MIDP) aims to help local shipyards enhance the domestic shipping industry by focusing on the areas of shipbuilding, ship repair, and ship breaking.
Among the initiatives being pursued by MARINA for the maritime sector are promotion of the Philippine Flag Registry, promotion of the Philippines as a transshipment and bunkering hub in the Southeast Asian region, upgrading and expansion of local shipyards, establishment of an eco-industrial maritime park, and establishment of a maritime training and research center.
This comes after the implementation of MARINA's new regulations requiring ISO certification among the member companies of the Shipyard Association of the Philippines (ShAP).