Wazzup Pilipinas!?
In time for Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month, the Waypoints Project conducted a Media Training on Civil Maritime Governance on September 8, 2023.
The three-hour in-person event provided basic information on civil maritime governance for journalists from various publications and news organizations to aid in understanding the intricacies of reporting about issues within the sector.
The training was conducted against the backdrop of varying issues arising from maritime governance, including escalating tensions on the West Philippine Sea and the Marcos administration’s push for programs prioritizing the ‘blue economy’ - a framework of management and development of ocean resources. The training also emphasized the importance of passing the Maritime Zones (MZ) Law, which will declare the Philippine maritime zones based on standards set by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It will also clarify the geographical extent of the Philippine maritime domain and the legal powers that the Philippine government may exercise. The House of Representatives approved House Bill 7819 or the proposed Philippine Maritime Zones Act in May 2023 while several versions of the Maritime Zones Bill have been filed in the Senate.
Speakers included Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya from the National Security Council, Dr. Rosalie Hall, Political Science professor from the University of the Philippines Visayas; Dr. Laura David, Professor from the University of the Philippines, and Julio Amador, founder of Amador Research Services and Senior Adviser for Waypoints Project. The event was moderated by Anna Oposa, Executive Director for Save Philippine Seas and communications advisor for Waypoints Project.
“The MZ Law will not only delineate the country’s maritime zones but will also serve as a foundational policy that can help improve the Philippines' maritime governance and the implementation of current and subsequent maritime laws,” said Julio Amador, Waypoints Senior Adviser.
The journalists who attended the media training learned about the depth and breadth of civil Maritime governance issues in the Philippines including matters of security and sovereignty, blue economy, food security, and environmental protection.
The Waypoints Project supports initiatives to address issues in the civil maritime security sector and establishing multiple avenues for communication and discussion that will engage key stakeholders on Philippine civil maritime issues. For more information, please contact [email protected].
