LONDON, 25 November -- The Philippine Ambassador to London, Edgardo B. Espiritu, reported to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs that the Philippines was re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) by the 24th Session of the IMO Assembly in London.  The newly elected members of the Council will serve for the 2006-2007 term.

The re-election of the Philippines to the IMO Council, for the fifth consecutive term, is a recognition of the valuable role the Philippines has played in the organization, and the country’s important contributions to its mission of ensuring “safe, secure and efficient shipping on cleaner oceans”. The Philippines is a major supplier of seafarers for the global shipping industry – more than 25 percent of all seafarers on board ships in international voyages are Filipinos.

In his presentation of the Philippines’ candidature, Ambassador Espiritu stressed that the Philippine Government assures the international maritime community that the education, training and certification of Filipino seafarers will be maintained to the highest international standards.

Ambassador Espiritu also emphasized that the Philippines is strongly committed to producing not only the best seafarers for the global shipping industry, but also to ensuring that it fully and effectively complies with all the IMO instruments to which it is a party.  He noted that the Philippines has expressed its willingness to participate in the voluntary IMO member state audit scheme.

The Philippines was elected from among 28 candidate countries to the 20 seats allocated under Category C of the IMO Council.  Category C consists of States with 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.  The two other categories in the IMO Council are Category A (10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services) and Category B (10 States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade). The Council is the executive organ of the IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization.

Ambassador Espiritu commended the members of the Philippine delegation to the IMO Assembly and all Embassy officers and staff for another successful campaign for election to the IMO Council. They had waged a spirited campaign for the country’s candidature during the week-long event. On November 24, the Embassy hosted a very well-attended cocktail reception and musical evening for all the national delegations to the 24th IMO Assembly at the Ambassador’s residence.

The Philippine delegation was headed by Ambassador Espiritu as Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the IMO, and Undersecretary Agustin R. Bengzon of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC).
Comprising the rest of the delegation were Philippine Ports Authority General Manager Oscar M. Sevilla, Maritime Industry Authority Administrator Vicente T. Suazo, Jr, Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Vice Admiral Arthur Gosingan, and officers of the Philippine Embassy and the DFA – Deputy Chief of Mission Estrella Berenguel who is also the deputy permanent representative to the IMO, Consul Neil Frank Ferrer who is the alternative permanent representative, Consul General Mario de Leon,  Minister Leo Herrera Lim, Consul Evangeline Ong-Jimenez, Vice Consul Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Defense Attaché Col. Celedonio Boquiren, Labor Attaché Jainal Rasul Jr. and Bernadette San Juan, director of the DFA’s Maritime and Ocean Affairs Center (MOAC). Also part of the Philippine delegation was London-based Angel Arando, a Filipino businessman engaged in the shipping industry. (Information Office, Philippine Embassy). END
 
 
 

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