Philippines Holds Meeting with Indonesia on Maritime and Ocean Concerns
Maritime and Ocean Affairs Assistant Secretary Maria Angela A. Ponce (right) and Director for Legal Affairs and Territorial Treaties of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Bebeb A.K.N. Djundjunan sign the official Record of Discussions for their respective delegations at the conclusion of the 11th PH-ID Joint Permanent Working group on Maritime and Ocean Affairs held via videoconferencing on 24 May 2021. (Photo from DFA-MOAO)
MANILA 02 June 2021 — DFA Maritime and Ocean Affairs Assistant Secretary Maria Angela A. Ponce led the Philippine delegation for the 11th Meeting of the Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns (JPWG-MOC) with Indonesia on 24 May 2021, held via video conference for the first time since its establishment in 2003.
The JPWG-MOC is the primary forum for exchange of views on maritime issues for the Philippines and Indonesia, led in this meeting by Director for Legal Affairs and Territorial Treaties of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Bebeb A.K.N. Djundjunan.
The two sides agreed to proceed with the implementation of the Philippines-Indonesia Agreement on Exclusive Economic Zone Delimitation, some of the highlights of which include the co-production of nautical charts and the establishment of an intercommunications mechanism.
They also agreed to move forward with a Memorandum of Understanding on maritime security cooperation between the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Maritime Security Agency of Indonesia (BAKAMLA), and undertake preparatory steps toward formal negotiations to delimit their overlapping continental shelf boundary.
The Philippines and Indonesia also discussed cooperation in multilateral issues, including the ongoing UN negotiations on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), the draft Regulations on Exploitation of Mineral Resources in the Area under the International Seabed Authority (ISA), and Indonesia’s interest to be an observer in the Arctic Council. END
Maritime and Ocean Affairs Assistant Secretary Maria Angela A. Ponce (right) of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and Director for Legal Affairs and Territorial Treaties of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Bebeb A.K.N. Djundjunan (left) hold up the signed official Record of Discussions at the conclusion of the 11th PH-ID Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Affairs held via videoconferencing on 24 May 2021. (Photo from DFA-MOAO)