The Philippines was re-elected in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council under category C for term 2024-2025 at elections held last 1 December 2023 during the 33rd IMO Assembly at the IMO Headquarters in London. The Philippines received 136 votes out of the possible 168 votes, ranking with the fourth highest number of votes amongst countries vying for the said seat. This is a huge leap from the 112 votes the country received in 2021, showing the trust and confidence of IMO member states to the maritime credentials of the Philippines. It is also the highest ranking that the Philippines garnered at the IMO elections in years. H.E. Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Permanent Representative to the IMO, in his candidature pitch, vowed that the Philippines will keep seafarers at the center of the IMO’s agenda. He highlighted the seafaring tradition of the Philippines saying : “It is not about leaving some behind in any worthy field of human endeavor, but of going farther forward, as can only be done by women and men together. For those of us who are personally descended from seafarers, the sea will always hold the perfume promise of return and the fragrance of hope.”
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime J. Bautista, in his general statement during the 33rd IMO Assembly stressed the crucial importance of the Philippine membership to the IMO Council: "We believe our re-election will allow us to continue contributing to the maritime industry, not just as a top provider of top-caliber seafarers, but also at promoting safe
and secure shipping operations, geared towards growth, modernization, resiliency and sustainability."
Other elected countries in the IMO Council under category C (countries which have a special interest in maritime transport or navigation) include the following: Bahamas, Bangladesh, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Türkiye.
Earlier in the week during the opening session of the 33rd IMO Assembly, H.E. Antonio Lagdameo, former Philippine representative to the IMO, turned over the Philippine presidency of the IMO Assembly to Saudi Arabia.