07 December 2015 - The Philippines was re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the term 2016-2017 at elections held during the 29th Regular Session of its Assembly at its headquarters in London.
The Philippines retained its seat in the IMO Council after a closely-contested election which saw 23 countries vie for 20 available seats under Category C. For the Philippines, this re-election marks continuous membership in the Council since 1997.
The Philippines has been a member of the International Maritime Organization since 1964 and has ratified and acceded to 22 IMO Conventions. It has been an active participant in the various committees and subcommittees of the IMO and its technical cooperation programs aimed at delivering capabilities in implementing international maritime regulations and standards.
The 29th Assembly of IMO is meeting in London at IMO Headquarters from November 23 to December 02. All 171 Member States and three Associate Members are entitled to attend the Assembly, which is IMO’s highest governing body. The Assembly elects the Council during its regular session for a term of two years.
The Council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible for supervising the work of the organization. Between sessions of the Assembly, the Council performs all the functions of the Assembly, except those reserved for the Assembly by the IMO Convention. The members of the Council under Category A are ten states with the largest interest in providing international shipping services, while those in Category B are ten states with the largest interest in international seaborne trade. Category C, under which the Philippines was re-elected, are 20 states which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation, and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world.
Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Enrique A. Manalo, who is also the country’s Permanent Representative to the IMO, said that this re-election is the Assembly’s vote of confidence on the Philippines’ role in the Council. “As the country with the most number of seafarers in merchant and fishing vessels, and as the fourth largest shipbuilding nation in the world in terms of gross tonnage, the Philippines is happy for the opportunity to continue its deep involvement in the work of the IMO, particularly those that promote safe and secure shipping and clean oceans,” Manalo said. END