Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople today said that the Philippines is close to concluding an agreement with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the establishment in Manila of IMO’s regional office.

“The IMO is the United Nations body responsible for ensuring the safe use by commercial and private vessels of our seas and oceans. Our hosting of IMO’s regional office will help our country and our region promote IMO’s regulatory framework as well as technical cooperation and development activities.  This will be not only be an honor for our country but also a major boost to our shipping and manning industry,” the Secretary said.

An IMO team was recently in Manila to meet with representatives of the DFA and the DOTC.  As a result of that meeting, a memorandum of understanding that would govern the hosting by the Philippines of the IMO regional office was drafted and will be signed shortly.

“The hosting by the Philippines of this important agency of the United Nations belies notions of instability in the country and reinforces the confidence that the international community has in our country and in our leadership,” the Secretary said.

“Much of the credit for this welcome development goes to the hard work of Ambassador Ceasar Bautista and his officers and staff in London as well as to the Office for United Nations and International Organizations (UNIO) in the Department,” the Secretary added. END.