09 June 2016 – The Philippines is hosting the Philippines-Indonesia 9th Meeting of the Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns (JPWG-MOC) in Makati City on June 08 to 10. Participants from various government agencies engaged in the maritime sector from the Philippines and Indonesia are attending the meeting.
In his welcome remarks, Assistant Secretary Benito Valeriano of the Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs (MOAO-DFA), highlighted the significance of the meeting as the primary vehicle between the two countries to exchange views on maritime issues of mutual interest. He added that the meeting also reflects the friendly and cordial ties between the two archipelagic countries.
DFA Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo, in his remarks, underscored the important role that the JPWG-MOC meetings had in negotiating bilateral issues in the maritime domain between PH and RI. He also underscored the role that the JPWG-MOC played in finalizing the agreement on the delimitation of the EEZ boundary between the two countries which eventually led to the signing of the agreement in 2014. He expressed optimism that the 9th meeting of the JPWG-MOC will further strengthen bilateral relations between PH and RI and hoped that the meeting will finalize the texts of some bilateral agreements.
The Meeting will discuss PH-RI maritime bilateral issues including post-boundary delimitation issues, review of the revised 1975 border crossing and border patrol agreements, cooperation in safety and security of navigation and search and rescue, and marine and fisheries cooperation, including combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing (IUUF) practices, among others.
DFA Undersecretary for Policy Manalo led the Philippine Delegation while Dr. Dr. ius. Damos Dumoli Agusman, Secretary of the Directorate General of Legal and International Treaties, led the Indonesian Delegation. END