The Philippines hosted last October the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Transportation Ministerial Meeting in Cebu, under the theme, “Driving Economic Growth Through Inclusive Mobility and Sustainable Transport Systems”.
Transportation ministers of the Asia-Pacific region discussed inclusive mobility, developing sustainable transport systems, and encouraging innovation and transport systems.
Among the highlights of the Cebu discussions were the inclusion of women in the transport sector, new technological developments in the sector such as Uber, and opportunities that await women in the sector.
The following were raised during the APEC’s discussions on transportation:
The ABAC on women’s rights
The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) urged the transport sector to promote women’s rights and equal rights regardless of gender during the Cebu meetings.
The ABAC’s Chair Doris Magsaysay-Ho noted that women are better drivers than men, contrary to popular perceptions. Uber Technologies, Inc. already has plans to hire women drivers.
Uber, a worldwide app-based business
Uber is a San Francisco-based international transportation network company that develops, markets and operates the Uber mobile app. The app allows consumers with smartphones to submit a trip request, which is then routed to Uber drivers who use their own cars.
The service is available in 58 countries and 300 cities worldwide, including the Philippines. By middle of this year, Uber was estimated to be worth US$50 billion.
Opportunities for women in the shipping sector
Today, more women, including Filipinos, have the opportunity to enter the shipping sector, previously dominated by men, owing to the acute shortage of top officers among ship managers.
Major seafaring nation
The Philippines is home to at least 25 percent of the world’s seafarers, among whom are Filipino women, according to Magsaysay-Ho, the chief executive officer of Magsaysay Maritime Corp.
First American woman ship captain
Kate McCue is the first American woman to captain a cruise ship. The 37-year-old McCue took the helm of the 91,000-ton cruise vessel last September. She was in charge of more than 2,000 passengers and a crew of almost 1,000.
Marriage, child bearing and raising family hamper women’s careers
Female cadets who start at 20 years old would be 30 years old when they become eligible to become sea captain. Companies must consider this reality when developing workforce policies.
Losses due to women’s non-participation in workforce
The APEC region loses US$42 billion to US$ 47 billion due to women’s limited participation in the workforce.
Women, not well represented
Women’s labor participation in the sector is relatively low and they are not adequately represented in the transportation workforce, according to Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs of the United States Department of Transportation Susan Kurland.
She said the transportation sector is crucial to women’s economic empowerment as it allows mobility and provides career opportunities.
US initiative to include women in the transport sector
In 2011, the US DOT called for a special session on women during the 7th APEC Transportation Ministerial Meeting.
As a result, ministers directed the APEC Transportation Working Group to launch a ‘Women in Transportation’ initiative to develop and implement actions that advance opportunities for women throughout the sector.
The Women in Transportation initiative builds on core principles of the APEC’s Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy.
Walking instead of motorized transport use
During the APEC meeting in Cebu, the Philippines proposed an Inclusive Mobility Network, which aims to gather best practices in the region and put together guidelines for sustainable mobility.
At the same time, the country promoted non-motorized mobility, particularly in central business districts, to encourage people to use bicycles or to walk. PND (as)