PH reelected as member of IMO
THE Philippines has been re-elected as member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council under Category C for Biennium 2022 to 2023.
This, during the 32ND Session of the IMO Assembly at the IMO Headquarters in London on 10 December 2021.
The election of the Philippines to the IMO Council comes as a double victory after the historic election earlier in the week of Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the IMO, H.E. Antonio M. Lagdameo, as IMO Assembly President. It is the first time in IMO’s history that the Philippines was elected as IMO Assembly President.
Lagdameo, as Head of the Philippine delegation, noted that the successful re-election of the Philippines to the Council comes at a time when the World Maritime Theme is Seafarers at the core of shipping’s future, a theme which has great resonance for the Philippines as a major seafaring nation.
A grateful MARINA Administrator VADM Robert Empedrad underscored the importance of the successful bid of the Philippines to the Council saying, “It is time to work for all the Filipino seafarers around the world. We have a big voice, a powerful voice, guardians in the IMO.”
The Council is the executive organ of the IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization. Between sessions of the Assembly, the council performs the functions of the Assembly, except that of making recommendations to Governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention.
The elected members of the Council for the 2022-2023 biennium are:
Category A) 10 states with the largest interest in providing international shipping services (in alphabetical order): China, Greece, Italy, Japan. Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States
Category B) 10 states with the largest interest in international seaborne trade: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates
Category C) 20 states 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: Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus. Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey and Vanuatu.
The Philippine delegation for the 32nd Session of the IMO Assembly headed by Lagdameo is composed of officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Office of Transportation Security.
