| X (Twitter): @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News
DUSIT THANI MANILA, Makati City, November 4, 2025 (SDN) — “Decarbonization” is now a global buzz word, including in the Philippines as countries face more climate change-related challenges.
First, “decarbonization” according to myclimate.org is replacing the “use of fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil to carbon-free and renewable energy sources” as soon as possible.
The goal, obviously, is to lessen greenhouse gas emissions substantially “by 2030 and to become climate neutral by 2040 or 2050 at the latest.”
Note that the Philippines is one of many countries which signed the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), among other key deals on decarbonization.
Today, Tuesday, the Norwegian Embassy in the country headed by Ambassador Christian Halaas Lyster conducted the Norway-Philippines Electric Ferries Conference in this five-star hotel participated by the private and public sectors focused on transportation, particularly on maritime travel leveraging electric vessels.
Norwegian diplomat lauds PH gov’t for its foresight, strong commitment
Norway’s top diplomat in the Philippines cited the root of the event, saying it was a result of what he described a “productive meeting” with now Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon during the time he headed the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
“Through his office, we began shaping this shared vision. Today, together with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and with valuable input from MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority), we are taking an important step toward a more sustainable maritime future,” the ambassador points out.
Lyster noted his country’s leadership in maritime electrification as “truly inspiring”, adding that the future of maritime mobility embraces decarbonization, digitalization, autonomy, and innovation.
He assured that Norway is strongly in support of ambitious international standards and goals for decarbonization initiatives, one of them the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Net Zero Framework.
“Through national policies, technology and innovation we will continue to developed the maritime future sector towards a greener and more sustainable tomorrow,” he emphasizes, as he hopes that Norway’s experience in electrifying ferries and vessels would provide the Philippines valuable insights and learning points in as much as the countries are navigating the same challenges and opportunities.
In connection with this, Lyster mentioned his country’s success story, describing it as “impressive” boosting 111 ferry routes and about 180 ferries operating. Electrification, he added, “is not only feasible but also highly effective.”
“I would like to commend the Philippine government for its foresight and strong commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future. Your productive leadership positions the Philippines as a frontrunner in the region’s green transition,” the Norwegian diplomat says.
Norway’s ambassador also noted his country and the Philippines’ enjoying strong bilateral ties from the time of their first honorary consulate in 1906 and the establishment of formal diplomatic ties in 1948.
At the core of this relationship, he noted, is maritime cooperation.
“I am proud the we continue to build on this solid foundation — not only through tradition, but through innovation. This electric ferry projects stands as a clear example of that progress.”
Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Sonia B. Malaluan delivered the second Keynote Speech for the event that assembled “key industry stakeholders United by a shared vision — to accelerate the transition toward cleaner, smarter, and more efficient ferry systems in the Philippines.”
The MARINA official spoke after Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary Villamor Ventura Plan, who had the first Keynote Speech.
She described as “not only a milestone” the Norway-Philippines event as far as decarbonization journey is concerned “but also a powerful testament to what international collaboration and partnership can achieve.”
PACIWFI, IMP Shipyard, and ZEM CEO ink partnership
The whole day activities featured a delegation of top Norwegian companies and their representatives such as Innovation Norway’s Daniel Seow, senior market advisor, who presented “Electrifying the Seas: Lessons, Challenges, and Success Stories from Norway”; Hyke with Bo Mikael Linnander, chief growth officer, “Designs and Operations of Urban Electric Ferries”; Kongsberg Maritime, Ivan Tan, vice president,” Integrated Maritime Solutions”; Sinus, Georgia Arne Bjørkelund, sales director, “Innovative Charging Solutions”; ZEM, Jonathan Sørbye, CEO, “Pioneers in Maritime Electrification”; Zeabus, Øyvind Smogeli, CEO, “Advancing Maritime Autonomy — Insights from Singapore and Norway”; Penguin International, George Philip, general manager, “Sharing of Ferry Electrification Experience from Singapore”; Maritime Robotics, Chris Hernandez, technical sales manager, “Autonomy at Sea: Integrating Unmanned Technologies into the Future of Electric Ferries”; Pascal Technologies, Liam Flood, business development manager, “Electric Ferries for High Energy Efficiency”; and Yinson Green Tech, Jan-Viggo Johansen, managing director, “From Harbor Crafts to Ferries — Accelerating Electrification across Asia”.
Philippine Interisland Shipping Association (PISA) President Mark M.F. Parco discussed “Interisland Shipping in the Philippines — an Overview”.
MARINA’s chief said the country now stands on the threshold of transformation as it takes bold measures to achieve low-emission maritime transport “that could redefine mobility across our nation’s waterways.”
It can be recalled that as a boost to maritime mobility using ferry service along historic Pasig River, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) inaugurated on October 6 the Php54.29-million E-Ferry Project for Inland Waterways with the pilot launch of the Electric Ferry (E-Ferry) named M/V Dalaray, a prototype catamaran.
DOST Secretary Dr. Renato S. Solidum, Jr. said the manufacture by Filipinos of M/V Dalaray considered the river’s condition to include “ensuring passenger comfort, energy efficiency, and ease of maintenance.”
The Innovation Council of the science department, the Philippine Council on Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) headed by Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit funded the E-Ferry Project implemented by the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD), Quezon City, Metro Manila.
PACIWFI Executive Director Miguel Gonzales, IMP Shipyard President & CEO Capt. Gaudencio G. Morales, and ZEM CEO Jonathan Sørbye signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)in a collaborative initiative aimed at the modernization of the Philippines’ coastal and island water transport system through the development and deployment of a Prototype Electric/Hybrid Propulsion Ferry (E-Ferry) to serve as a model for the country.
MAPALLA to offer cleaner, quieter, and faster mode for mobility
MARINA’s Malaluan cited the Philippines being an archipelagic nation (with over 7,000 scattered islands) of which over 90 percent of its domestic trade is moved by ships as well as having 60 percent of its population living in coastal communities.
She says this “makes shipping an essential necessity”.
Malaluan adds, “It is imperative that maritime transport serve as potent economic driver of the country. In 2024, passenger traffic was recorded by the Philippine Ports Authority at 78.7 million while total domestic ship calls have been increasing from 464,729 I’m 2022 to 610,528 in 2024. The volume of domestic cargo througput reached 104.67 million metric tons.”
The top MARINA executive gave a glimpse of the country’s marine transport that has 3,438 shipping entities with valid accreditation as of end of 2024 and total capitalization of Php.110.34 million, which amounts to some US$2 billion.
The entities, she added, own or operate over 8,355 merchant ships, of which 53.7 percent are passenger ships and general average size of around 200 gross tonnage.
Dominating the nation’s maritime Water-borne transport, Malaluan pointed out, is the Philippine Nautical Highway System (PNHS).
She also told the attendees about the country’s Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP) 2028 which covers a Core Program on the modernization and expansion of the domestic shipping.
Additionally, the MIDP’s Core Program includes the Tourist Destination Areas (TDAs) and Coastal and Inland Waterway Transport System (CIWTS) adopted to achieve the outcome of increased, sustainable, modern, safe and efficient domestic merchant fleet.
The MARINA official emphasized the importance to the Philippine economy of the coastal and inland waterways.
Malaluan makes mention of the conference’s significance that “aim to learn from Norway’s experience, showcase Norwegian innovation, and most importantly, build strong partnerships that will help accelerate the Philippines’ own transition toward a sustainable and resilient maritime future. ”
In relation with this, she noted the nation’s “deep connection to the sea” that puts on MARINA “a profound responsibility…to safeguard the marine environment.”
She described what is called the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake (MAPALLA) Electric Ferry System focused on linking Metro Manila, Cavite, and Laguna by way of high-capacity, high-frequency, and low-carbon commuter Ferry network.
Malaluan said the MAPALLA would be “a cleaner, quieter, and faster way to travel through the heart of the metropolis, reducing congestion on our roads while cutting emissions across our transport system.” (©)
_________
The author
EDD, a native of Sub-Saharan Africa Buluan/Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, BARMM, college at UST, is a Manila-based journalist for over 40 years (33 years with Manila Bulletin), has five Media Awards (1 with University of the Philippines (UP) 2017 Science Journalism Award), covered and traveled over 40 times abroad), has contributed to Rappler, Business Mirror, Manila Business Insights, Panorama Magazine, Agriculture Magazine, and others, former Manila-based Foreign Correspondent of Saudi Arabia newspapers Saudi Gazette and Riyadh Daily, and The Peninsula (Qatar newspaper), with 2008 East-West Center (EWC) Journalism Seminar in the United States, 2000 Executive IT Seminar in Seoul, South Korea, with three Silver Awards in Photography, writes Muslim and Current Affairs, Enterprise, Science, Tech, Products Launch, and virtually everything under Heaven. (©)