EMB7 should do a  MARINA7 move

This week, the maritime industry players (as they celebrated their 24th National Maritime Week), brought to our attention the country’s commitment to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (or MARPOL). Notably, ratified in 2001, MARPOL took measures “against intentional or unintentional discharge of oil, toxic liquid substance, sewage and garbage into the ocean resulting in marine pollution.”

Undeniably, marine pollution remains one the most tenacious environmental issues in the country today. And it is laudable that Cebu’s maritime industry players brought this perilous concern to the fore. True enough, the renewal of their commitment to “protect the country’s sea waters against the proliferation of marine pollution” is a breath of fresh air.

Indeed, the ocean’s potential is immense and a certainty. Its resources are now viewed as central in our efforts to address the multitude of challenges that humanity is expected to face in the coming decades. For one, pundits projected that by 2050, “the world’s population shall be at least 9 billion.” With such size, the demands for food, jobs, energy, raw materials and economic growth will be enormous. Certainly, the massiveness of the ocean (both the surface as well as its resources down deep) has the potential to help meet these requirements. Collectively, these potentials and those that we’ve already enjoyed now is called the ocean economy.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines ocean economy as the “the sum of the economic activities of ocean-based industries, together with the assets, goods and services of marine ecosystems.” This includes among others, “marine fishing and aquaculture, coastal and marine tourism, extractive industries (e.g. oil and gas, sea-bed mining), transport and logistics industries (freight and passenger transport), shipbuilding industries, renewable energy and marine biotechnologies.”

OECD projected that the “value added generated by ocean-based industry globally could double in size from US$ 1.5 trillion in global value added in 2010 (the base year) to US$ 3 trillion in 2030.” As observed, there is a noticeable increase in economic activity in the ocean. It is a combination of the “briskly expanding ocean industries and expectations of moderate growth in already large industries like maritime and coastal tourism, offshore oil and gas, shipbuilding and maritime equipment.”

Some ocean industries though are expected to grow faster than the world economy.  OECD singled out “marine aquaculture, capture fisheries, fish processing, offshore wind, and port activities.” Consequently, “employment in ocean-based industries as a whole is also set to more than double by 2030 (over 40 million).” Notably, “above-average job growth is expected in almost all the sectors included in the study, with especially rapid employment growth occurring for example in marine aquaculture, fish processing, offshore wind and port activities.”

As an island nation, we can also tap our own side of the ocean. The potential is unlimited.  However, one of our biggest hindrances is pollution. We need not go that far. Tañon Strait (supposedly, a protected area) has huge potential. Sadly though, the City of Bais and the Municipality of Manjuyod have a deleterious concern to address. An ethanol plant right at the boundary of the City of Bais and the Municipality of Manjuyod is freely releasing its black and muddy liquid waste into the Bais North Bay. This pollutant has turned the sand a tad brown and the seawater a bit murky along the shoreline and in several islets in the area. Consequently, the poor fishermen were badly affected. Their livelihoods were severely diminished.

Precariously, the Manjuyod Sandbar is just a few kilometers away. So, if left unchecked, this will also kill its tourism potentials. Probably, this so called “Maldives in the Philippines” may soon be popularly known as the “Darkest Chocolate Sandbar” of the world.

Agreeably though, factories in the countryside are providing livelihood to the rural folks.  Obviously, it prevents rural exodus. However, we can’t just simply provide wages to a few and kill the livelihood of the rest. There must be some ways to create a win-win situation. Absolutely, an effective treatment plant is necessary.

MARINA 7 showed us the way to do it. Last September 8, it partnered with the Bureau of Quarantine to ramp up inspection (twice a month) of passenger ships in the region. Reportedly, it shall issue Notice of Deficiency to non-compliant shipowners. If left unsolved, it may result in penalties, suspension, or revocation of their permit to operate.

What about the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Central Visayas? Don’t you think a similar move is necessary?