Danish International Development Agency (Danida) in February sponsored a regional workshop on Port Waste Management Plan held at Concorde Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, attended by delegates from 10 member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The workshop was aimed at encouraging discussions among ASEAN countries that would help promote regional cooperation in port waste management.
Y.B. Dato’ Seri Dr. Ling Liong Sik, Minister of Transport of Malaysia gave an opening speech to welcome guests and participants.
“It is noted that many developing nations have not been able to implement the (port waste management) requirement as the capital expenditure involved is quite substantial. I am therefore very happy to note that the Danish government, through Danida, is already proceeding into their second phase where they will be proposing a port waste management plan for our ports,” said Dr. Sik in his speech.
“This plan will ultimately be a guide on how a port in general should deal with ships’ wastes as well as the means to manage these wastes economically, consistent with international requirements and practices and yet suited to our local environment.”
The resource speakers included Danida Environment counsellor Ms. Inge Lorenzen, Secretary-General of Malaysian Ministry of Transport Y. Bhg. Dato’ Zaharah Shaari, Marine Department Director General Y.M. Raja Datuk Malik Saripulazan Raja Kamaruzaman.
Philippines meanwhile discovered from an assessment presented at the workshop that it was way ahead of other ASEAN countries on the control and management of wastes generated by ships at the sea ports.
Comparing the prevailing condition in the Philippines with other ASEAN countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei, the Philippines through the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) performed well in marine pollution control and preservation of its environment.
Next month, for example, the PPA will conduct a public bidding for the “provision of reception facility” in ports particularly Port of Manila as provided for in the Marpol convention of 1973. This means that since the government has no funds for this undertaking, the private sector shall instead operate the huge project that includes the selection of location, construction of infrastructures, acquisition of equipments or machineries and hiring of personnel. This, in essence, will further improve the port and harbor environment as far as marine protection is concerned.
A follow-up workshop on port waste management plan in the region will be held in the second quarter of this year.