Philippines, Palau Resume Talks on Maritime Boundaries
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Maria Angela Ponce (right) and Palau Ministry of Public Infrastructure Industries Minister Charles Obichang (left) sign the Record of Discussions for the intersessional meeting. (DFA-MOAO photo)
PASAY CITY 14 March 2022 – Ending a two-year suspension of meetings brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines hosted the first intersessional meeting with Palau on 10 March 2022, resuming constructive discussions to prepare for the 5th Technical Panel Meeting on the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The Philippine delegation, led by DFA Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Maria Angela Ponce, joined by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – NAMRIA, the Department of Justice, the Department of Agriculture, and the National Security Council, met Palau counterparts headed by Minister Charles Obichang of the Palau Ministry of Public Infrastructure Industries.
The intersessional meeting was convened for the purpose of revisiting the records of discussions from the first four meetings of the Technical Panel, from 2015 through to 2019; to take stock of areas of common understanding; to agree on parameters for future work; and to prepare for the next meeting of the Technical Panel.
The Philippines looks forward to sustaining the momentum of the resumed talks, and to hosting the 5th Meeting of the Technical Panel on the Delimitation of the EEZ between the Philippines and Palau in 2022. END