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REVIEW Volume III Number 3 A PUBLICATION OF THE MARITIME LEAGUE July- September 1996 State of the art grain handling technology BoosTING PoRT APABILITY FoR GLOBAL TRADE TERMINALS INCORPORATED ian Terminal Incorporated, xce ptional lien! Services AT! combilws both world-class facilities the sole coJ1taine1· terminal mtd sen,ices to fully satisft; its growing and multi cargo oper. tor at 11tt 111 ber of c/ie11ts. Co11tainer berths A with /ugh ca1Jacity cranes supported by the South Harbor, Port of Manila, modt•m contai11er handling equipment live up to its commitm nt of ettsun• optimtt/11 services. progr siv growth a it invest billions of pesos into computerization, treamlining of operational procedures, pier and yard Computerization improvem nt, and acqui it-ion of new Utilization of lite world's leading high performance equipment and computer system strmglltetts AT/'s leadership 111 pori terminal computer!· expanding its he tarage along the zalion'tltal direclly /umefils pori users South Harbor. such as exporters mtd mtporlers. Complementing thes efforts i th construction and operation of the US$40-mi!Uon Marivele · rajn Terminal, the fir t land-ba ed, mul~i· u er bulk grain terminal in th Multi-Grain Handling country. The Mrtrivelt·~ Grai11s Tmninal is the irst lmtd-ba ·ed, multi-grain terminal wlhe country. It ensures reduced Asian Terminal , Incorporated. ~p illage, Jas ter discharge rates and urmtl storage capacity of 160,000 Our respon e to acceleration port Ions. needs is to invest and provide excellent infrash ucture and ervice , further boosting Philippine port Development of a Complete Port capability for global trade. ATI invests ltent1ily em conlaim•r alUI mulfi·cnrgo Juuulli11g equil'/111'111 wltilt• it is expanding mul modrrmziltg Piers 3 a 111f .5 for im:rcnsed capncil ies nnd efficient operat ions. AsiAN TERMINALs · INCORPORATED M~t c ll e dt San funds,o, outh Harbor J'ort Ar~a . Monila, l'hilipplnts J.el. No_!.'' (6321.52711051; 80 l'u No.: (6321 5272467 ·~-"'~~·-- '' -'-------- c 0 N T E N T s Maritime League CARLOS L. AGUSTIN Chairman and President PRESIDENT'S PAGE Seizing the historic opportunity in Mindanao 4 Commo. DARIO T. FAJARDO DOMESTIC VICTORINO A. BASCO Fast ferries pass the test of seasons VICENTE A. SANDOVAL 8 PISA raises issues, cites steps lf"'-.:~~""':"'-ro:I!I _ _..""='S"_ DORIS TERESA M. HO to unravel them k .... ., , . - ..,_ CARLOS C. SALINAS MATIAS B. AZNAR III COVER STORY VICENTE F. ALDANESE JR. Phils. enters era of HERMINIO S. ESGUERRA Board a/Trustees state of the art grain handling 14 Editorial Board technology CARLOS L. AGUSTIN OVERSEAS Chairman Is a 2nd ship registry necessary for the Philippines? 20 VICTORINO A. BASCO MANNING Vice-Chairman Schools strive for higher standard 22 VICENTE F. GAMBITO SHIPBUILDING DORIS TERESA M. HO European yards 23 EDGARS.GO compete for foreign DANTE LA JIMENEZ contracts Members Shipyards set modest growth rate Editorial Staff PORTS Multimodalism gaining Carlos B. Santos adherents Editor 'ZT ICTSI continues to ex pand MICT Eddie R. Cordova Associate Editor Ruby M. Gonzalez Ma. Carmela I. Huelar Evelyn Z. Macairan Mirasol B. Ng Staffmembers ~ opinionJ ex;~ ty tJu, Wl'ikf':J Jo nol N/tct ~ o/ ik 'ff!a,.ifime ofsm;tu. WORD FROM FVR ., Modernizing maritime 30 The Maritime Review communications Rm. 309 Marsman Bldg. South Harbor, Manila NATIONALMARITIMEDAY 32 TeL No. 47-56-10 Fax 530-1199 PRESIDENT'S PAGE SEIZING 'IHE HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY IN T h e Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD) was created as a result of the July 23, 1996 meeting of the Government and MNLF peace panels in Davao City. Criticized by many, President Ramos explains the need forSPCPD. MARITIME REVIEW Third Quarter 1996 4 any of our people are Part of this opposition is also being area, 44 members from the MNLF, and racked by anxieties and fed by preconceived biases or hidden fears 10 members from various sectors questions about what owing to ethnic or religious differences. recommended by non-government the recent arrangement The main remedy to the situation is organizations and people's organizations. for the establishment of accurate and timely information leading The tenure of the council and the M to better understanding of the issues. In assembly is three years. a Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD), concluded by this effort, I appeal to you, the leaders of Third, the local government units in government and Moro National Liberation media, to lend your responsible hands. the area, including the ARMM, shall Front (MNLF) negotiators, portends for Let me therefore begin by discussing continue to exist and exercise their Mindanao in particular and the nation as here exactly what the agreement explic functions in accordance with existing a whole. itly states and provides for. laws. Thus, the functions, powers, and At one end, we hear encouraging sup responsibilities of local government units port that the agreement could finally break WHAT THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES and their officials will not be prejudiced, decades of conflict that had taken thou As described in the document arising and their local autonomy under the local sands of lives and open the way for the from the eighth meeting of representatives government code of 1991 will not be full and unimpeded development of that of our government and representatives of diminished. part of our country. the Moro National Liberation Front, the Fourth, there shall be established a At the other, we hear an outcry of fear panels reached key "points of consensus" special zone of peace and development in and suspicion that government may have for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. southern Philippines in the 14 provinces sold out the welfare of millions of our The agreement in the eighth meeting and all the cities therein covered by the compatriots in the region and that there calls for implementation in two phases. Tripoli agreement. fore the agreement has ushered only the During Phase 1, the primary points of Within the next three years, these prospects of a new phase in the conflict. consensus are the following: areas shall be the focus of intensive peace No day passes in which the SPCPD is First, the agreement calls for the and development efforts. Public and not denounced or defended. establishment of the SPCPD, a council that private investments shall be channeled to No day passes in which we do not will principally promote, monitor, and such areas to spur economic activities, hear petitions to postpone the agreement coordinate peace and development efforts enhance social equity and uplift the and replace it with another plan that will in the south. conditions of the people therein. take anothet round and years of negotia The council will be composed of a It is to be noted here that no new area tions. chairman, a vice-chairman, and three of autonomy is declared in the document. deputies representing the Muslims, the No new autonomous government is GRASPING THE MOMENT Christians and the Lumad, or indigenous formed or established, but only a These varied voices reflect the cen peoples, all of whom will be appointed by description of an area where peace and trality and complexity of the problem we the President. development efforts will be focused and face in Mindanao. This council is not a political prioritized. I understand the depth of feeling of governing authority; it has no police power Phase 2 provides for the establishment those who have expressed concern about or authority; it has no separate judicial of a new autonomous government. the change dawning on the region. personality; it is a transitory administrative First, through an act of Congress But I also fervently believe we have entity under the control and supervision amending or repealing the ARMM now with the SPCPD, a historic opportu of the President of the Republic of the Organic Act of 1989 (R.A. 6734 ), a new nity to achieve peace in our southern re Philippines. plan for regional autonomy will be gions, to mold lasting unity among our Second, the agreement calls for the submitted for approval by the people in people, and insure our nation's sustain establishment of a consultative assembly, the affectJd provinces and cities within able development. For the first time in a which shall serve as a forum for two years from the establishment of the generation, we have the chance to turn our consultation on issues and the council. collective talents and energies to the work recommendation of policies and programs The area of autonomy shall then of peace and sustained progress. to the President, the assembly is not a consist of the provinces and cities that vote All of us should strive to seize this lawmaking body. to join the new autonomous region. opportunity to break the shackles of the The assembly will be made up of 81 Second, a regional security force for past and create new hope for the future. members, composed of the council the autonomous regional government will Much that is being said against the chairman, the governor and the vice be established as provided by the agreement arises from misunderstanding governor of the Autonomous Region of amendatory law . This organization will or inadequate information of what it ex Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the 14 be composed of the existing Philippine plicitly provides for and envisions. governors, and all the city mayors in the National Police units in the area of MARITIME REVIEW Third Quarter 1996 5 autonomy, qualified MNLF elements, recognized the necessity of democratic accord. and other residents in the area who may consultation within the affected To repeat, the council will serve as be recruited into the force.