TIM eMagazine Vol.2 Issue 9
IMO re-elects PHL
to council
Credits: imo.org
T
Ranking moves up five notches to 13th place
he Department of Transportation (DOTr) recently
announced the re-election of the Philippines to the
Council of the United Nations’ International Maritime
Organization in charge of maritime safety, security
and environment protection, the Department of
Transportation said.
The election for the IMO Council was held during the
30th Session of the IMO Assembly (A30) being held from
27 November to 06 December 2017 at the IMO Headquarters in London,
UK. The Philippine Delegation to the A30 was composed of, among
others, Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo and other Philippine Embassy
For the Philippines to earn a higher position,
stressed Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)
Administrator MARCIAL Q.C. AMARO III, is
attributed to the strong and progressive
administration of Philippine President Rodrigo
Duterte as well as the highly esteemed reputation
of Filipino seafarers in the global maritime sector.
Government statistics state that over 25 percent
of the 1.5 million seafarers globally are Filipinos,
whose remittances contribute US$5.75 billion to
national coffers.
officers, representatives from the Office of the President and the Office
of the Executive Secretary, DFA representatives, MARINA representatives
headed by MARINA Administrator Marcial Quirico ‘Al’ C. Amaro III, PhD;
PPA representatives headed by General Manger Jay Daniel R Santiago,
NAMRIA representative, and the PCG representative Capt. Rolando Lizor
Punzalan.
According to the IMO website, the council is the organization’s
executive organ and is responsible, under the assembly, for supervising
the work of the organization. The council performs all the assembly’s
function in between sessions, except for making recommendations to
governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention.
The Philippines obtained 124 out of 160 votes last December 1 under
Category C, placing 13th among 20 elected IMO member-states under
the said category. The country received 124 out of 160 votes under the
council’s Category C; this positions the country in 13th place among
the 20 elected IMO member-states with special interests in maritime
transport or navigation. Joining the Philippines in the category are
Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica,
Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Singapore, South
Africa, Thailand and Turkey.
This places the country five notches above its ranking of 18 in 2015.
Category A are states with the largest interest in providing
international shipping services while Category B are those with the
largest interest in international seaborne trade. Category C meanwhile are
states not elected under A or B, which have special interests in maritime
transport or navigation and whose election to the Council will ensure the
representation of all major geographic areas of the world.
For the Philippines to earn a higher position, stressed Maritime
Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator MARCIAL Q.C. AMARO III, is
attributed to the strong and progressive administration of Philippine
President Rodrigo Duterte as well as the highly esteemed reputation of
Filipino seafarers in the global maritime sector. Government statistics
state that over 25 percent of the 1.5 million seafarers globally are Filipinos,
whose remittances contribute US$5.75 billion to national coffers.
“The Philippines winning a slot in this prestigious international
maritime Council is not only a victory for the DOTr, but a victory for
Filipino seafarers, the entire Philippines, and for all of us Filipinos,” Amaro
summed up.
imo.org
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