On 18 August 2025, PTC hosted a focused discussion on Maritime Just Transition at the Legaspi Room of First Maritime Place in Makati City. The event brought together representatives from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and PTC.

PTC CEO Gerardo Borromeo welcomed participants by emphasizing the critical role of Filipino seafarers in sustaining the global economy and underscoring the importance of preparing the workforce for the future. In his opening remarks, DOTr Assistant Secretary Villamor Plan echoed this perspective, noting that ASEAN is also advancing efforts to strengthen its labor sector and highlighting the Philippines’ opportunity to take leadership in the regional transition.

Capt. Pol Winston Haboc, Vice President of PHILCAMSAT, shared insights from ongoing international dialogues, drawing from PTC’s active role as a partner in the UN Global Compact’s Maritime Just Transition Task Force. He highlighted the company’s efforts to align seafarer training and skills development with global initiatives aimed at supporting the transition to green shipping.

The MARINA delegation, led by STCW Executive Director Samuel Batalla, outlined the agency’s priorities on maritime skills development. Mr. Herbert Nalupa, MARINA’s designated lead on Just Transition, presented the draft Executive Order for the creation of a National Maritime Skills Council, which would serve as a platform for coordinated, future-oriented workforce readiness.

The discussion was further enriched by contributions from DENR, DOLE, and ADB, complemented by international perspectives from Mr. Andreas Nordseth, Senior Executive Adviser to the European Commission for the EU SCOPE Project. The session concluded with a shared recognition of the urgent need for inter-agency cooperation and sustained consultation to ensure Filipino seafarers remain globally competitive in the just transition toward greener and more resilient shipping.