Philippines, Indonesia Set the Stage for the Delimitation of Continental Shelf Boundary
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Oceans Affairs Maria Angela A. Ponce (left) and Director Bebeb A.K.N. Djundjunan (second from right) held the Preparatory meeting for the First Special Meeting of the Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns on the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf Boundary. (DFA-MOAO photo)
PASAY CITY 02 November 2021 — The Philippines and Indonesia held a Preparatory Meeting for the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf Boundary on 28 October 2021 via video conference.
DFA - Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office Assistant Secretary Maria Angela A. Ponce led the Philippine delegation, while the Indonesian delegation was led by Director Bebeb A.K.N. Djundjunan of the Legal Affairs and Territorial Treaties Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Preparatory Meeting was a follow-through to the agreement to commence discussions on the delimitation of the continental shelf during the 11th Philippines-Indonesia Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns (JPWG-MOC) hosted by the Philippines in May 2021.
Both sides affirmed the rule of law, including UNCLOS, in the delimitation of boundaries. They also discussed the Principles and Guidelines of the continental shelf boundary delimitation, identification of respective basepoints, and timeline and structure of future meetings.
The Philippines and Indonesia are eager to commence and lay down the foundation of the road to achieving another milestone in bilateral relations after the “Agreement Concerning the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone Boundary” entered into force in 2019. END
The signing of the Records of Discussion of the Preparatory Meeting on the First Special Meeting of the Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Oceans Concerns on the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf Boundary, by the Heads of the Delegations. (DFA-MOAO photo)