PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday emphasized anew the need to “upskill and reskill the seafaring workforce” in anticipation of the scheduled shift of ocean-going vessels to “greener” fuel such as hydrogen between 2030 to 2040.
The Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said the President made the remark during his meeting with officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Malacañang.
The OPS said Marcos emphasized that Filipino seafarers need additional training to be able to handle the use of alternative fuels that is being adopted by many countries in a bid to meet global decarbonization objectives.
“The seafaring industry needs to create habits to help with carbon emission reduction,” OPS said, quoting Marcos.
Last November 14, leading organizations across the shipping value chain and the largest producers of green hydrogen signed a joint statement during the 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) that commits to the rapid production and use of low-carbon fuels based on green hydrogen to accelerate decarbonization of global shipping.
The shipping sector currently accounts for three percent of global greenhouse gas emissions but this is expected to grow to 50 percent by 2050 without intervention.
The President, during the recent Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Asia Pacific economic Cooperation summits, pushed for the development of renewable energy sources to address the problem of high power costs and said the Philippines had prioritized renewable energy options such as hydropower, geothermal power, solar and other low-emission energy sources.
Marcos also talked of the Philippines’ plans to raise the share of renewable energy in the country’s power generation mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
The President, during the 49th Founding Anniversary of the Career Executive Service Board (CESB) and 2022 Career Executive Service Lifelong Learning for Leadership Congress, urged the country’s career executive service officers and eligible to avoid temptations and corruptions as well while remaining committed to welfare of the people and the improvement of their lives.
Marcos asked them to remain vigilant against corruption and other acts that diminish public trust.
“Remember that we are here not for our own gain. We are here to bring forth a government that provides for the needs of the people,” he said as he called on public servants to continue to support the government and to actively take part in pursuing the administration’s 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda.
The 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda involves “policies that promote social justice, ensure food security, accelerate progress, protect our environment and address climate change.”
“Let us reinvent ourselves and reinvent the bureaucracy… The welfare of the people and the improvement of our lives is of utmost importance,” he added.
During the event, the President also vowed to carry out a review of Memorandum Circular No. 3, series of 2022, that extended the term of office of some government officials and employees until the end of the year or until a replacement has been named for the positions they are occupying.
“Let me assure our Career Executive Service Board and the affected CESEs occupying third-level positions in the government that the Office of the President is going to review the said memorandum, and look into the other hurdles faced by many CESEs in obtaining CES eligibility,” he said.
After the event, the President led the 2022 Galing Pook Awards where he recognized the active response and effective leadership of local government units (LGUs) amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and other challenges.
“As your President, I’m deeply encouraged by the effective leadership we now see shining brightly amongst our LGUs,” Marcos said, adding that everyone benefited from the active response and prompt delivery of services of the LGUs in the years of the pandemic.
“So, I thank you for letting our people know that they are in safe hands, even if the health crisis and other succeeding challenges gave us enough reason to fear,” he added as he expressed hope the local government units would continue to give their best in the present journey into the new normal.
He asked them to be consistent and persevering in their endeavors as well as to support his administration in building a country “where efficient, competent, and effective leadership is the hallmark of Philippine governance.”
The 10 outstanding programs by various LGUs are The Green Wall of Alcala (Alcala, Cagayan); Advancing and Sustaining Good Governance and Community Actions towards Resiliency and Empowerment (Basilan Province); Bataan Public-Private Partnership Programs (Bataan Province); Balik-Biñan Project: Tourism Development through Heritage Conservation (Biñan City, Laguna);
From Black to Green: Fishponds, Eco- Tourism and Full Employment (Brgy. Cayabu, Tanay, Rizal); Trekking to Unlock Community Ailments and Difficulties (TUCAD) (Goa, Camarines Sur); “I-BIKE” A Program Promoting the Development of the Iloilo City Bike Culture (Iloilo City); Yaru: A Whole-of-Community Approach Towards Disaster Management (Itbayat, Batanes); Libertad Fish Forever Savings Club (Libertad, Antique); and Basta Piddigueño, AgriHenyo: Consolidated Farm Production System (Piddig, Ilocos Norte).
Galing Pook recognizes, capacitates and promotes innovation, sustainability, citizen empowerment and excellence in local governance and has empowered hundreds of LGUs to develop programs and social innovations through the Galing Pook Awards, Galing Pook Academy and Galing Pook Advocacies.
