25 April 2015 – The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) incumbent Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu paid a courtesy call on Malacañang and was received by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. del Rosario and Secretary of Trade and Communication Joseph Emilio A. Abaya on April 24. Thereafter, the Secretary-General received the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of “Datu” with a citation signed by President Benigno S. Aquino III. The award was conferred by Secretary Del Rosario.

The award was given to the Secretary-General in view of the critical role he played in adopting amendments to the 1978 International Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) for seafarers and his support of  various Philippine initiatives in enhancing the safety and security of ships and the welfare of approximately 400,000 Filipino seafarers.

Also present at the conferment were Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Dr. Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr. and DFA Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Benito B. Valeriano.

The IMO Secretary-General visited the Philippines to open the IMO Conference on the Enhancement of Safety of Ships Carrying Passengers on Non-international Voyages, scheduled on 24 April 2015 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila. END