PCG: Philippine delegates from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) attended the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Senior Transport Officials Meeting (STOM) hosted by the Ministry of Transport in Singapore today.

The STOM Leader and head of delegation represented by Undersecretary Garry V. De Guzman together with representatives from the Philippine government namely Assistant Secretary Fernando Juan Perez, DOTr Assistant Secretary for Maritime; Ms. Caroline Lourdes Mangalili from the Department of Transportations; General Jim Sydiongco, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines; Mr Porvenir Porciuncula, Executive Director of the Civil Aeronautics Board; Atty Martin Delgra III, Chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board; Noreen Bernadette San Luis-Lutey from the Regional Director of the Land Transportation Office-Legaspi City; Administrator Marcial Amaro III of Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA); Lilian Javier from the Philippine Ports Authority; and Commander Christine Pauline Diciano PCG of the Philippine Coast Guard were among the attendees of the said event.

Administrator Amaro III rendered his report on the realization of the ASEAN Single Shipping Market (ASSM) through the implementation of agreed strategies and measures, development and monitor ing of key primary indicators on port efficiency like cargo handling and ship turnaround time, conduct a pilot project on the operationalization of ASSM including in-depth cost benefit analysis, and identification of a mechanism to mutually recognize the certificate of competency for near coastal voyages issued by ASEAN member states.

He also discussed on the enhancement of the implementation of the Electronic Data Interchange in ASEAN ports establishment of a national coordinating body to oversee the port and land transport infrastructure development which will worm on a national master plan for port and land transport development for better port access.

The improvement on the reliability of technical standards of ASEAN ports, conduct of dialogue among the concerned member states for the preparation of Roll on Roll off routes operation, conduct of study and formulation of a regional plan for developing Inland Waterway Transport in ASEAN, development of guidelines for the Area Maritime Security on maritime navigational and passenger safety, establishment of ASEAN regional training centers for Vessel Traffic System operators, promotion of the development of port technology through Port Technology Group, identification of training needs to further improve transport safety in the region, drafting of regional oil spill contingency plan, conduct of joint hydrographic survey of the straits of Malacca and Singapore were also included in Administrator Amaro’s report.

The Philippines will host the 34th ASEAN Maritime Transport Working Group Meeting this September this year.

The ASEAN is composed of various countries such as Malaysia, the Republic of Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Brunei Darussalam.