PPA to host the 2022 National Maritime Week Celebration

15 SEPTEMBER 2022, MANILA—The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is hosting the 2022 National Maritime Week (NMW) slated for September 19-25, 2022 with various activities lined up anchored on this year’s theme, “New Technologies for Greener Shipping.”

As planned by the National Committee, the celebration includes the dressing and simultaneous blowing of horns for ships docked at any PPA port, bloodletting, a webinar on green ports and shipping, a vlog-making contest, and the national coastal clean-up drive.

“We in PPA have been supportive of the various initiatives in the implementation of greener and sustainable port operations,” PPA Officer-In-Charge – General Manager (OIC-GM) Atty. Francisquiel O. Mancile said.

“In fact, two PPA ports namely Cagayan de Oro and Batangas have been conferred compliant with the Green Port Award System (GPAS) – a program developed by the APEC Port Services Network (APSN) – which is proof of the Authority’s commitment in attaining sustainable port operations,” Mancile added.

“We are with high hopes that this year’s celebration will bring enough impact to the public and stakeholder’s awareness of sustainable port operations, which is parallel to the directive of the President to maintain a port industry at par with global standards and best practices,” OIC-GM Mancile emphasized, adding that a sustainable port will also result in lower logistics cost which follows the marching order of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

As the lead agency for the NMW 2022, PPA’s 25 Port Management Offices (PMOs) nationwide will likewise spearhead the conduct of other activities aside from those stated above. The parallel activities include tree planting, sports festival, photography contest, Zumba, virtual maritime photo exhibition, equipment and art exhibition, the conduct of basic port operations seminar, feeding program, karaoke challenge, recycled art competition, and a COVID-19 vaccination drive.

Meanwhile, attached and line agencies of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) namely the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) will be among the co-lead stewards, in coordination with other maritime community partners from the private sector, in ensuring the successful conduct of the NMW celebration.

National Maritime Week is being celebrated annually as stipulated in Proclamation No. 866 series of 1996 in support of the unrestricted development of the local maritime industry and in response to the need for a strong and outward-looking maritime policy, signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos.

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