As part of the celebration for this year’s National Women’s Month, the National Defense College of the Philippines held the “NDCP Talks on Women in Maritime Law Enforcement” on 27 March 2023 in hybrid mode.

This forum tackled the personal experiences of women in maritime law enforcement and practitioners of international maritime law.

The activity featured the first female general line officer to become a Philippine Coast Guard Commodore, CG Commodore Mitzie Silva-Campo, as the main speaker. Meanwhile, Dr Melissa Hubahib Loja, Vice-Chair and Professional Lecturer of Maritime and International Law of the Philippine Judicial Academy, and Capt Marissa Arlene Martinez PN (GSC), Director of the Center for Naval Leadership and Excellence of the Philippine Navy, also served as reactors.

The NDCP President, LtGen Ferdinand M Cartujano PAF (Ret), concluded the event by posing a challenge to those in positions of power to create inclusive and equitable working environments that will allow women to reach and showcase their full potential. He then implored women with aspirations to pursue a career in the defense and security sector to do so with no hesitation.

More than a hundred participants graced the forum, both online and onsite, including MNSA RC 58, MNSA Senior Executives, and NSSP Class 04 students, representatives from the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Commission on Women, Miriam College Women and Gender Institute (WAGI), the gender and development offices of the three major services, from the Department of National Defense, and from the Philippine National Police Maritime Group.