Global program now active in seven countries aims to tackle regional maritime challenges through local solutions
MAKATI, PHILIPPINES – The Philippines officially launched the Ocean Centres initiative on July 10, marking the country’s entry into a global program revolutionizing maritime safety and sustainability practices across emerging ocean economies.
Maritime leaders, government officials, industry, and community representatives converged at the Asian Institute of Management’s Aboitiz Tech Space to launch a new chapter in the country’s ocean safety and sustainability approach.
The Ocean Centres initiative, which debuted at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, has now reached Philippine waters. Supported by the UN Global Compact and the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, the program weaves together local maritime knowledge with global best practices.
The initiative spans seven countries—Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines—each facing distinct maritime challenges. Rather than imposing universal solutions, the Ocean Centres approach recognizes that effective maritime safety must be rooted in local realities and driven by those who know the waters best.
“The launch of Ocean Centres Philippines marks a turning point for the country’s blue economy,” said Edward Gacusana, Institutional Partnership Manager of the Global Compact Network Philippines (GCNP), which hosted the event. “We are proud to be leading this nationally anchored, globally connected initiative that brings together local knowledge, cross-sector collaboration, and global best practices.”
The Philippine center focuses on four critical areas reflecting both global maritime trends and local priorities: shipping and ports, fishing and aquaculture, offshore renewables, and finance and investment. These focus areas emerged from extensive stakeholder engagement, ensuring the initiative addresses real challenges faced by maritime communities across the archipelago.
The launch event, themed “LAYAG: #OceanCentresPH tungo sa ligtas at likas-kayang karagatan,” brought together voices from across the maritime ecosystem. Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Sonia Malaluan delivered the keynote address, while panel discussions featured representatives from Philippine Transmarine Carriers Group, International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), Sinaya Seafood, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Energies PH, and MARINA.
For Yrhen Balinis, Ocean Centres Philippines Country Lead, the initiative represents more than just another maritime program. “The Ocean Centres Philippines will serve as a go-to resource and hub for ocean safety, sustainable practices, and research collaboration,” Balinis explained. “Our mission is to co-create solutions with those most affected and ensure that local voices drive national and global change.”
The emphasis on collaboration reflects growing recognition that maritime safety challenges—from shipping accidents to fishing vessel incidents—require coordinated responses that bridge traditional industry silos. By bringing together government agencies, private companies, and maritime communities, the Ocean Centres initiative creates a more integrated approach to ocean safety.
The Philippine center joins a network spanning continents and maritime contexts, from Ghana’s fishing communities to Bangladesh’s busy shipping lanes. This global connectivity enables knowledge sharing and best practice exchange while maintaining the local focus that makes solutions relevant and implementable.
To learn more, please visit www.oceancentres.com
