Thursday, September 26, 2013

2013 National Maritime Week observed in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept 26 (PIA) – The National Maritime Week celebration this year kicked off Monday, September 23 and will last until September 29, 2013. The week-long festivities highlight once again the importance of maritime sector in nation-building.

Ms. Rosenda G. Sumagaysay, Port Manager and 2013 National Maritime Week Celebration Lead Agency Head said that now on its 18th year, the celebration of Maritime Week has also become the most fitting avenue to pay homage to the heroism of our country’s more than 400,000 seafarers distributed overseas, and the 60,000plus seafarers in the domestic front.

This year’s theme centers on the commitments made at the United Nations Conference of Sustainable Development, which is also known as “ Rio 2012, Rio+20”.  “It basically tackles the creation of a Green Economy Roadmap for the next 20 years for UN’s 192-member countries, which includes the Philippines,” she added.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) as lead agency for 2013 NMW adopted a sub-theme, "Going Green in PPA Ports".  PPA coalesced with the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) agencies under the Water Sector such as the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), including other partipating agencies/groups like the Philippine Navy (PN), Philippine National Police Maritime Group (PNP-MariG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Regal Arrastre and Stevedoring, Inc. (RASI), Mariners’ Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF), Shipping Companies and LGU Legazpi City and came up with different commemorative activities during the week-long celebration.

During the kick-off on Monday, a Eucharistic Celebration was offered at the new Passenger Building, Port of Legazpi. This was followed by the launching of the 1st ever Port Park in Bicol Ports and the Opening of the Mural Painting Contest and a Motorcade along the major  streets of Legazpi City.

Last Tuesday, Sept 25, a Port Greening Seminar Program and Educational Field Trip aboard Vessel (MPCF) with graduating high school students as audience was conducted, while a Seminar on Marine Pollution and Environmental Laws was held yesterday.

The Search and Rescue Drill which was culminated by a Boodle Fight was conducted today with the personnel of PCG, PN, MPCF and other concerned agencies were the participants during the activity.

A Mangrove Planting and Coastal Clean-up in selected areas in the region will be conducted. The week-long activity will be culminated through a Cultural Night.

Other ports within the region such as Matnog, Tabaco, Masbate, Bulan, Pioduran, Pasacao, and Virac also conducted their respective activities to commemorate the NMW.
PPA Matnog also initiated activities such as  parade around town, dressing-up of vessels, under-water clean-up operations at the port spearheaded by PCG Special Operations Group/Elite Divers,  coastal clean-up at the shorelines of barangays Camcaman and Camachiles, mangrove tree-planting at Banuang-daan, and search and rescue drill.  (BARecebido, PIA-5/Sorsogon)


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