Marina ends 3-day seminar
on marine cartography
THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) will conclude today its three-day seminar-workshop on Basic Marine Cartography and (Geographical Information System) GIS Course at the Garden Plaza Hotel in Manila.
The workshop, done in partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and National Mapping Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), aims to level up the capability of Marina personnel, both in the central and regional offices, to address issues of safety and prevention of maritime accidents through a comprehensive and up to date information and data access and dissemination.
Marina Administrator Emerson M. Lorenzo said that he has been advocating for the use of the GIS since he was a director of Marina and now that he is the administrator, he has the opportunity to implement this innovative approach.
Nicasio A. Conti, deputy administrator for Planning, said that this is a big step in the right direction and is long over-due since other countries have long been using this system.
Kazushi Susuki, project advisor, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Philippines Office, welcomed the program and committed to continue its cooperation with Marina. JICA plays an active role in the development and delivery of technical assistance programs extended to Marina.
Commodore Romeo I. Ho, director, Hydrography Department NAMRIA, stressed the importance of the activity and NAMRIA’s participation in terms of sharing expertise in basic cartography, nautical charting, electronic navigational chart, global positioning system and introduction to GIS software.
Lorenzo said that one of his policy directions is to have all the data on shipping to be readily available on the Marina website. In addition to this, the categorization of the country’s navigational chart is also in his bucket list to prevent maritime accidents and promote a safer and cleaner marine environment.
Marina is the agency primarily responsible for maritime safety in the Philippines.