Philippines Pledges Full Support for IMO Work in the Human Element of the Shipping Industry
UNIO Assistant Secretary Bayani Mercado delivers the PH Statement at the 30th Session of the IMO Assembly, London
04 December 2017 LONDON – The Philippines underscores the important contribution of Filipino seafarers in the efficient, safe and environment-friendly operation of ships in the international maritime trade.
“The Philippines shares the skills and expertise of its people as seafarers on board all types of ships and in the management and operation of ports,” UNIO Assistant Secretary Bayani Mercado said in the Philippine Statement at the 30th Session of the Assembly (A30) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), London. Assec. Mercado added that: “In 2015, the Philippines processed 519,977 employment contracts for deployment of Filipino seafarers. This is in addition to thousands more Filipinos working aboard cruise liners, in foreign ports and as technical personnel on oil rigs and floating production platforms. With a young population of 103.6 million as of 2016, we have a large reserve work force completing their academic and vocational training and ready to move into the different sectors of the maritime industry.”
He assured A30 that, as a major source-country for seafarers for the international maritime industry, the Philippines is committed to work closely with the IMO in line with the Strategic Plan “to continue to place increased emphasis on the contribution of the human element to safer, more secure and environmentally friendly shipping”.
In support of the Integrated Technical Cooperation Program of the IMO, the Philippines is hosting 4 regional and 4 national workshops in 2018 and 2019 as its contribution to efforts to enhance the skills of seafarers and keep them up to date with the evolving shipping technologies and the capacity of Member States to implement IMO instruments.
In the Statement, the Philippines called on IMO Member States to continue to pay particular attention to the needs of developing countries, especially those of small island developing States and least developed countries. “As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of IMO next year with the theme “Our heritage, for better shipping and better future, we look to the IMO in ensuring that no country should be left behind in fulfilling its mission and in the implementation of the Strategic Plan,” Assistant Secretary Mercado said.
The Philippines is seeking re-election to the IMO Council, Category C.
PHILIPPINE STATEMENT AT A30
Delivered by
Hon. Bayani S. Mercado
Assistant Secretary
Office of the United Nations and International Organizations
Department of Foreign Affairs
28 November 2017
Good morning, Mr. President, Secretary-General, Heads of Delegations, Excellencies, representatives, ladies and gentlemen.
Please allow me to, first, congratulate you on your election as President, and thanks to Secretary General Kitach Lim and the Secretariat for the efficient organizational and administrative support for this Assembly.
May I also join other delegations in conveying our heartfelt prayers and sympathies to the delegations of Iran, Iraq, Egypt and Argentina over the tragic incidents in their countries.
As an archipelagic state, the Philippine maritime policy is strongly connected to the mission of the IMO, as enunciated in its Strategic Plan for 2016 to 2021, “to promote safe, secure, environmentally sound, efficient and sustainable shipping through cooperation.”
We all celebrated World Maritime Day with the theme for 2017 – “Connecting Ships, Ports and People” to provide an opportunity to focus on the many diverse actors involved in the shipping and logistics areas. Ships and ports rely on skilled and competent human resources.
The Philippines shares the skills and expertise of its people as seafarers on board all types of ships and in the management and operation of ports. In 2015, the Philippines processed 519,977 employment contracts for deployment of Filipino seafarers. This is in addition to thousands more Filipinos working aboard cruise liners, in foreign ports and as technical personnel on oil rigs and floating production platforms. With a young population of 103.6 million as of 2016, we have a large reserve work force completing their academic and vocational training and ready to move into the different sectors of the maritime industry.
As a major source-country for seafarers for the international maritime industry, the Philippines is committed to work closely with the IMO in line with the Strategic Plan “to continue to place increased emphasis on the contribution of the human element to safer, more secure and environmentally friendly shipping.”
This is one of the reasons for the Philippines to seek election in the IMO Council, Category C.
The importance of the human element is further recognized in the proposed Strategic Plan for 2018-2023 as discussed in the Annex to Assembly document A30/7. We invite Member States to support document A30/7 that will institutionalize this overarching principle of the human element in all the components of the IMO Strategic Plan for the period until 2023.
The Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) is vital to assisting developing countries, especially the seafarer supplying countries, to implement IMO instrument, and gains a greater purpose under the on-going IMSAS. The Philippines is now preparing for its IMSAS in 2021 and wish to thank the IMO for the technical assistance in anticipation of the audit.
We join the Member States in the effort to further strengthen the ITCP to achieve the relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Philippines is hosting 4 regional and 4 national workshops in 2018 and 2019 as its contribution to our effort to enhance the skills of seafarers and keep them up to date with the evolving shipping technologies and the capacity of Member States to implement IMO instruments.
Women in Maritime Asia (WIMA), headed by the Philippines, provides the policy recommendation and action to increase the participation of women in shipping as part of the region’s commitment to SDG goal number 5 on gender equality and empowerment and the IMO’s commitment to increase women’s participation in maritime.
Our IMLI and WMU graduates have assisted the Philippines in protecting the marine environment with the preparation and submission of the necessary documents for the designation of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park as the Particularly Sensitive Sea Area and Area to be Avoided (PSSA/ATBA), which was approved by the MEPC. The Philippines has put in place the measures to promptly advice ships of the PSSA/ATBA as part of the program to ensure safe navigation in the Sulu Sea and preserve the prestine marine environment in the Tubbata Reefs.
The Philippines shares in the efforts of the IMO to address the security threat to seafarers brought about by piracy and armed robbery against ships. The Philippines is represented in the Combined Maritime Force (CMF) Bahrain and a Contracting Party to the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP).
The Philippine Government is resolute in taking actions against piracy in our waters as part of the overall strategy to address internal and regional security challenges associated with the global war on terrorism. As part of this action, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia have launched coordinated air and sea patrols to cover the vast areas to ensure that the waters remain safe and secure.
The implementation of the Strategic Plan and High Level Action Plan up to 2023 requires an effective and efficient administrative structure. For this reason, the Philippines would lend its support to the proposed budget to give the Organization and the Secretariat the necessary wherewithal to respond effectively and efficiently to emerging trends, developments and challenges. To this end, Philippines looks to the Council to provide the visionary leadership with the optimally structured committees and sub-committees supported by an effective and efficient Secretariat to fulfil the purposes of the IMO.
In fulfilling the mission and strategic plan, the Philippines shall work with the IMO to ensure that the views of all stakeholders are taken into account in its decision-making processes. We call on IMO Member States to continue to pay particular attention to the needs of developing countries, especially those of small island developing States and least developed countries. IMO must work towards an inclusive growth of the global shipping industry and economy while giving due recognition to the sovereignty of Member States, their unique geography, developmental requires and particular circumstances.
As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of IMO next year with the theme “Our heritage, for better shipping and better future, we look to the IMO in ensuring that no country should be left behind in fulfilling its mission and in the implementation of the Strategic Plan.
Thank you
For more information, visit www.londonpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/pg/PHLinUK and @philippinesinuk on Twitter.
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