Philippines: Coordinated Patrols Needed to Protect Shipping
The Philippines has been discussing coordinated naval patrols on its southern maritime borders with Indonesia and Malaysia to protect shipping after attacks and kidnappings by Islamist militants, its foreign minister said on Thursday. Indonesia is trying to free about 14 of its citizens seized from tugboats by Abu Sayyaf rebels from the southern Philippines and has called for joint patrols. Four Malaysians seamen are also being held. The Islamist rebels, who are raking in tens of millions of dollars in ransom, decapitated a Canadian on Monday and are still holding 23 hostages. Citizens of the Netherlands, Japan, Norway and the Philippines are among them.
Philippines, Vietnam to Explore Joint Patrols in South China Sea
Defence officials from the Philippines and Vietnam will meet this week to explore possible joint exercises and navy patrols, military sources said, shoring up a new alliance between states locked in maritime rows with China. Ties have strengthened between the two Southeast Asian countries as China's assertiveness intensifies with a rapid buildup of man-made islands in the Spratly archipelago, to which Vietnam and the Philippines lay claim. Both states are also on the receiving end of a renewed charm offensive by the United States, which is holding joint military exercises in the Philippines to be attended this week by U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter.
DP World in Philippines Talks
Dubai-based DP World Group chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem has held discussions with senior Philippines officials on trade and business opportunities. DP World is present in the Philippines through its stake in Asian Terminals Inc., which operates the modern South Harbour in Manila. ATI is the sole container terminal and multi-cargo port operator of South Harbour, the Philippines' key terminal in the country's biggest market providing services for containerised and non-containerised cargoes and passengers. The discussions revolved around the government's plans for development of the maritime sector, privatisation and efforts to develop infrastructure.
ICTSI Subic unit shop Reduces Port Users Time
International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s (ICTSI) Subic Bay Freeport unit, Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC), in partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), recently opened a one stop shop (OSS) to fast track documentary transactions in Subic Bay’s container terminals. Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras led the launching of the OSS together with SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia and SBITC general manager Roberto Locsin. Located inside the New Container Terminal 1, the OSS is next to the administration offices of SBITC and several satellite offices of shipping lines. With the OSS, port users can expect shorter document and cargo processing times as SBITC, BOC and SBMA are housed in one location.
Manila Port Congestion Eased: Palace
Malacañang has declared that the congestion at the Port of Manila has been resolved, noting the various measures that the government and the private sector have implemented to address the problem. Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the operations at the Port of Manila have been completely normalized with the combined efforts of the Cabinet cluster on port decongestion and the technical working group of various agencies. “There was a time that the ports and all the container yards were flooded with empty containers. As of the end of February 2015, this is no longer the situation,” Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras said in a statement.
'Business as Usual' for Manila Port During Papal Visit
Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) says that the country's major seaports, except the Manila South Harbor, will remain open during Pope Francis' visit to the country from January 15 to 19. PPA general manager Juan Sta. Ana said it is “business as usual” for the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), North Port, Harbour Centre Port Terminals Inc., and the Tacloban baseport. The clarifications come after reports in the local media that the Manila Port will be closed prompting PPA to suspend operations. However, PPA said in a statement it had advised stakeholders to take additional measures to reduce the commercial impact of the slowdown in operations to give way to the security measures being put in place for the Pope’s safety.
