PHILIPPINE EMBASSY LONDON HOSTS KAPIHAN SA PASUGUAN WITH THE PHILIPPINE ARMY COMMANDING GENERAL
LtGen Rolando Joselito Bautista of the PH Army gives a talk to the Filipino community at the PH Embassy.
19 MARCH 2018 LONDON – The Embassy of the Philippines in London hosted its first Kapihan sa Pasuguan for the year with special guest Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista, Commanding General of the Philippine Army, last 13 March 2018 at the Embassy Reception Hall.
LtGen. Bautista, who was in London to receive the Palladium Balanced Scorecard Hall of Fame for Executive Strategy on behalf of the Philippine Army, provided valuable insights to the members of the Filipino community as well as to Embassy personnel on the work of the Armed Forces of the Philippines during the siege of Marawi last year. LtGen. Bautista was the ground commander during the Marawi incident.
The Philippine Embassy, headed by Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo, also were the special guests of the Philippine Army when it was inducted into the Palladium Balanced Scorecard Hall of Fame for Executive Strategy held at the Grange St. Paul’s Hotel in the City of London.
At the induction of the PH Army into the Palladium Balanced Scorecard Hall of Fame at Grange St. Paul’s Hotel. From L to R: Col. Elmer Suderio, Col. Joel Paloma, Consul General Senen Mangalile, Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo, LtGen Baustista, and First Secretary Kristine Salle.
Having inducted more than 200 organizations around the world since its establishment in 2000, the recognizing body is regarded as the gold standard for strategic performance management. “I congratulate the Philippine Army for this prestigious honor bestowed upon them. They are an inspiration on how a well-executed strategy can make a difference not only to their organization but also to the community they serve,” Ambassador Lagdameo states. END
AMB. LAGDAMEO AND PERMREP ASUQUE LEAD EMBASSY OFFICIALS AT 70th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF IMO CONVENTION
06 March 2018 – Amb. Antonio M. Lagdameo and Gilberto Asuque, Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Deputy Chief of Mission, lead Philippine Embassy officials in the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the IMO Convention in ceremonies held at the IMO Headquarters with H.M. Queen Elizabeth II as the guest of honor. H.M. The Queen unveiled the commemorative plaque assisted by IMO Secretary General Kitack Lim. The event was attended by the Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of IMO Member States and the staff of the Secretariat.
In his welcome remarks, Secretary General Lim recalled the adoption of the IMO Convention at the UN Maritime Conference held 70 years ago in Room VII of the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The Convention entered into force ten years later, on 17 March 1958 and IMO’s first meeting was held in London on 06 January 1959. The Philippines ratified the IMO Convention in 1964.
Through the years, the IMO Member States have pursued the development of the regulatory framework for a safe, environmentally-friendly and sustainable global maritime transport system. For the Philippines, the IMO is a vital UN organization in ensuring full compliance by Filipino merchant mariners of the international standards for the training and certification of seafarers, being a major source-country of manpower for the world’s merchant fleet.
During the celebration, Amb. Lagdameo signed the commemorative book congratulating the IMO on its 70th year and wishing the Organization more success in its strategic goals and work program to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals in protecting the marine environment, addressing climate change and promoting safe navigation. Joining Amb. Lagdameo and PermRep Asuque during the celebration were Deputy PermRep Senen Mangalile, Alternate PermRep Emma Sarne, who had the opportunity of greeting H.M. The Queen at the IMO Headquarters, and Mr. Arsenio Lingad, Maritime Attaché, MARINA. END
SENATE CONCURS TO PH ACCESSION TO FIVE IMO CONVENTIONS AND TWO FAO AGREEMENTS
05 March – The Department of Foreign Affairs announced today that the Senate has concurred to the accession by the Philippines to five Conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on marine environmental protection and safety of seafarers and to two FAO Agreements to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
In her sponsorship speech, Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, highlighted the importance for the Philippines to become a Party to the Agreements which support the implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goals through the protection of the marine environment, addressing climate change and promotion of safe navigation and sustainable fishing practices.
Sen. Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, delivers her sponsorship speech for the five IMO Conventions and two FAO Agreements during the Senate Plenary on 26 February 2018.
With 19 senators voting in favor, the Senate unanimously approved on third reading, a Resolution concurring with the Philippines’ accession to the following Agreements:
- The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships 2001;
- The Protocol of 1997 to Amend the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships,1973 as modified by the Protocol of 1978, (on Annex VI and measures to reduce air pollution from ships);
- The Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, (on measures to further improve the safety of ships, particularly tankers);
- The Protocol of 1988 Relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, (on the harmonized system of ship survey and certification)
- The Protocol of 1988 to the Load Line Convention 1966;
- The FAO Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas; and
- The FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.
Ambassador Gilberto Asuque , Philippine Permanent Representative to the IMO and MARINA officials brief Ms. P. Suharni Samanodi-Candao, Legislative Secretary of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, on technical matters related to the IMO Conventions.
The Senate’s concurrence was made possible through the strong representation of Senator Legarda with substantive support from the DFA, Philippine Permanent Representative to the IMO, MARINA, PCG, BFAR and other agencies. PermRep G. Asuque explained the importance of these IMO conventions for the safety of Filipino seafarers and in protecting the marine environment from the operation of ships The DFA will deposit the Instruments of Ratification to the IMO and the FAO
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PRESS RELEASE - MARINA Officials and PermRep-IMO meet IMO Officials in Manila for the IMO-NORAD MEPSEAS Technical Cooperation Project for the ASEAN Countries
23 February – Officials of the Maritime Industry Authority of the Philippines (MARINA) and the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) discussed with experts from the Marine Environment Division (MED) of IMO on the implementation of the Marine Environment Protection of the South East Asian Seas (MEPSEAS) Project, the second phase of the IMO – NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation) Technical Cooperation Project for the ASEAN Countries.
MARINA officials led by Undersecretary for Maritime Transport Felipe Judan of the Department of Transport (DOTr) and Amb. Gilberto Asuque, Permanent Representative to the IMO, met Mr. Jose Matheickal, Deputy Director of the MED; Mr. Bekir Sitki Ustaoglu, Head of the Asia Pacific Section, Technical Cooperation Division; and Ms. Melanie Sgueglia, Principal Secretary, MED at the MARINA office in Manila on the details of the IMO-NORAD MEPSEAS project especially as it pertains to the Philippines.
MARINA officials led by Usec Felipe Judan, DOTr Undersecretary for Maritime Transport, Amb. Gilberto Asuque, Permanent Representative to the IMO, Atty. Josephine Uranza, IMO Regional Coordinator for East Asia and Ms. Brenda Pimentel welcome IMO officials during their visit to the MARINA on 23 February 2018
The project aims to develop the national capacities of seven ASEAN nations, including the Philippines, to enable them to implement high-priority IMO environmental conventions namely, the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWM), the Anti-Fouling Systems Convention (AFS), the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and its Annexes, and the London Convention and Protocol.
The IMO-MED officials visited Manila from 20 February 2018 for three days of consultative meetings with key government agencies in connection with the ratification, accession and implementation of the conventions covered by the project.
Atty. Josephine Uranza, IMO Regional Coordinator for East Asia and Ms. Brenda Pimentel, Coordinator for the IMO-NORAD Project, joined the MED officials during the discussions in MARINA. The IMO Officials conducted a Project Implementation Workshop on the MEPSEAS Project at MARINA on February 23 attended by representatives from various government agencies.
Mr. Matheickal delivered a presentation on the state of marine environment protection in the SouthEast Asian Seas and a background of the IMO – NORAD Foundation Project. He stressed the importance of fast-tracking the implementation of the high-priority conventions, particularly the BWM and AFS, as these will undoubtedly be instrumental in helping the ASEAN Member-States improve their technological capacities in terms of protecting their respective marine environments.
IMO officials brief Philippine officials on the IMO-NORAD Technical Cooperation Project for the ASEAN Countries during a Workshop held at the MARINA on 23 February 2018.
Undersecretary Judan thanked the IMO and NORAD for the MEPSEAS Project that would enhance the capabilities of the Philippines to contribute to the strategic goals of the IMO in protecting the marine environment for the operation of ships. For his part, PermRep Asuque discussed measures to facilitate the ratification or accession by the Philippines of the BWM, AFS, Annex VI of MARPOL and other IMO conventions as he expressed appreciation for the visit of the IMO officials to discuss the MEPSEAS Project. At the same time, PermRep Asuque informed meeting that the President has signed the ratification papers for AFS Convention and Annex VI of MARPOL which are being considered by the Senate for concurrence. END
