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:

1. The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships 2001;
2. 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);
3. 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);
4. 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)
5. The Protocol of 1988 to the Load Line Convention 1966;
6. The FAO Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas; and
7. 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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