30 June 2016 – On June 24, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) incumbent Secretary General Kitack Lim paid a courtesy call on the Department of Foreign Affairs and was received by Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) Undersecretary Jesus I. Yabes.

During the courtesy call, Secretary General Lim emphasized the importance of the Filipino Seafarers in the Global Shipping industry and the Philippines’ commitment on marine environmental protection in proposing the designation of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area.

He also said that the Philippines remains a significant supplier of manpower for the global shipping industry with a total of 367,893 Filipino seafarers (officers and ratings) as of 2015 based on the latest survey of the Baltic and International Maritime Council/International Chamber of Shipping (BIMCO/ICS). There are Filipino seafarers in almost all of the 68,723 ships in today’s global merchant fleet. Thus, the Filipinos remain as the seafarer of choice for ship owners and charterers for their skills, dedication to duties and commitment to the industry.

Also present at the courtesy call were Permanent Representative to IMO Gilberto G.B Asuque, MARINA Deputy Administrator Gloria J. Victoria-Banas, IMO Regional Coordinator Atty. Josephine Uranza and Philippine Coast Guard Flag Officer in Command Rear Admiral William M. Melad.

IMO Secretary General also met industry key players such as the Joint Manning Group (JMG), Woman in Maritime Philippines (WIMAPHIL) and Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP).

IMO Secretary General Lim visited the Philippines to be the guest of honor and keynote speaker last June 25 on the “2016 International Day of the Seafarer”in the Philippines. END