MANILA, Philippines — A Senate bill 2482, a law that will seek to regulate and modernize the practice of naval architecture in the country was approved on a third and final reading.
Senator. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, who sponsors the bill said, “the proposed measure will help promote innovations in the ship building and repair industry by replacing the five-decade old law.”
“The pending law seeks to introduce international practices and standards in the naval architect profession.” Trillanes said.
“The government needs to develop the global competitiveness of the Philippines’s shipbuilders as the country is a leading maritime nation.” Senate President Franklin Drilon said, in which he is the principal author of the bill.
“Given the advances in the technology and developments in the profession, the law, which has been in existence for 50 years, is no longer responsive to the needs of the Filipino professionals,” Drilon said in a statement.
He also added that the bill also seeks to harness the skills of Filipino naval architects “by providing them continuing professional development and training.”
A Maritime Industry Authority data in 2013 showed that the country has surpassed its European counterparts in shipbuilding.
According to the data from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The Philippines is also the fourth largest ship building country after Korea, China and Japan.
Trillanes said. “The economic upswing in the ship building sector rests on the appeal of our naval architects, who are highly valued for their proven competence and remarkable diligence.”
In an investment report, the DTI said the country is now building more ships of larger tonnage capacities like bulk carriers, container ships and passenger ferries.
Among the Philippines’s competitive advantage in shipbuilding are its readily available skilled manpower, available areas to set up shipyards and liberalized imports of raw materials, the DTI noted.
Images bellow shows a ship building industry in the Philippines
Featured image is for presentation purpose only.
By: Jason E.
