IN Greek mythology, the Titans were the pre-Olympian gods. They were the 12 children of Uranus (Sky) and Gaia (Earth).
Eight of the Titans married each other. From Cronus and Rhea’s union emerged the first generation of Olympians: Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Hestia, Demeter and Hera. Some descendants of the Titans, like Prometheus, Atlas, Helios and Leto, are also sometimes referred to as Titans. Cronus, the leader of the Titans, ruled during the Golden Age, a time of peace and prosperity.
Now, we refer to anything or anyone gigantic in size or power, a person or thing of very great strength, intellect or importance that stands out for greatness of achievement as a titan.
It is quite fitting, then, that our maritime professionals are considered ocean titans: they are the core of the shipping industry, responsible for operating and maintaining ships. They play a vital role in ensuring the safety and security of maritime operations. Their roles are crucial for the smooth functioning of international trade, transportation and maritime activities. These professionals focus on the ship’s navigation, maintenance and overall operation, ensuring the safe transportation of goods and passengers across the world’s waterways.
Seafarers contribute to safe navigation by operating and maintaining vessels. They follow safety protocols, conduct emergency drills and respond to crises effectively. Seafarers ensure that goods are stowed properly to prevent damage during transit. Many seafarers embark on long-term voyages, spending up to nine months away from home, working to maintain our global economy and way of life. Their commitment ensures that goods and fuels reach us, even if we don’t always connect these goods with seafarers’ efforts.
On Jan. 20, 2023, a joint memo on protected areas (PAs) was signed, seeking to identify sustainable investment opportunities in Public-Private Partnerships to strengthen this commitment. The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center, together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR BMB) and the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), a project of the United Nations Development Program, seeks to promote protected areas nationwide that can be developed as economically and ecologically viable and financially self-sustaining areas that champion biodiversity conservation under the PPP Program of the government.
The proposed joint memorandum can help identify opportunities for holistic and integrated private sector participation in PA management and development.
Jobert John Bandol, senior ecosystems management specialist of the National Parks Division of DENR BMB, revealed that these guidelines are intended to attain sustainable financing of protected areas and to enhance the technical capacities of our protected area managers. “Today, many of our protected areas are generating revenues, but it cannot cover or support their overall operations for the protection and conservation of biodiversity,” he said, adding that these guidelines will also enhance the technical knowhow of PA managers and staff, making their improved operations create sustainable livelihood opportunities for the communities.
Jeffrey Manalo, deputy executive director of the PPP Center, pointed out “the significant opportunity of bringing in the expertise and resources of the private sector in helping improve the management of some of our protected areas. PPPs can be a solution. It can help boost the ecotourism industry of these areas and get more people to appreciate and preserve its unique biodiversity. This will help uplift the lives of our people living within these areas with new jobs and business prospects while safeguarding and protecting our irreplaceable ecosystems.”
Our country has a high level of diversity, but industrialization and unwise use of resources like deforestation and sea pollution have decimated the country’s ecological balance. To save our natural resources, President Corazon Aquino signed the Nipas Act (National Integrated Protected Areas System Act) into law in 1992. The Nipas Act covers all protected areas, whether terrestrial, coastal or marine. These PAs are recognized as ecologically rich and unique areas and biologically important public lands that are habitats of rare and threatened species of plants and animals, biogeographic zones, and related ecosystems. Since 1992, a total of 234 PAs covering 5.23 million hectares have been governed under the Nipas Act.
Public-private partnership is proving to be a good marriage. Just as the Titans of Greek mythology gave birth to the gods of Olympus, our Ocean Titans shall give birth to projects essential to a healthy and productive global ocean and its sustainable use, development and stewardship by a responsible Ocean Business Community.
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