The Philippines is expected to gain a "powerful voice" in global maritime policy making after its reelection in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council consisting of 40 members.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the country was reelected under the council's Category C for Biennium 2022 to 2023, during the 32nd session of the IMO Assembly in London on Dec. 10.
Category C is a group of 20 countries that have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election ensures the representation of all major geographic areas of the world.
Permanent Representative to the IMO Philippine Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo said that the 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.
Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Robert Empedrad, on the other hand, underscored that the successful bid of the Philippines to the Council gives the country a big and powerful voice in the council.
"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," he said.
The election of the Philippines to the IMO Council comes as a double victory after the historic election earlier in the week of Lagdameo as IMO Assembly President. It is the first time in IMO’s history that the Philippines was elected as IMO Assembly President.
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 Category A of the IMO includes 10 states with the largest interest in providing international shipping services. These are China, Greece, Italy, Japan. Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Category B has 10 states with the largest interest in international seaborne trade. These states are Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates.
Category C includes 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 DFA, MARINA, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Office of Transportation Security.