Pursuant to Executive Order No.159, series of 2021, the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee to Facilitate the Ratification of/Accession to and Implementation of Maritime Conventions (ICCFRAIMC), held its 3rd meeting, approving key resolutions to strengthen the Philippines’ maritime sector.

Designation of Agencies as Focal for the Ratification/Accession of the Philippines to Relevant International Maritime Organization (IMO) Instruments

A resolution designating the focal agencies who will lead the efforts in ratifying/acceding to priority IMO instruments relevant to the Philippines; and
Designation of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in Leading the Ratification/ Accession of the Philippines to the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic, 1965, as amended (FAL Convention)

A resolution designating the PPA as the continued focal leading the ratification/accession of the Philippines to the FAL Convention.

The latest updates on the priority IMO instruments were also presented, including challenges encountered and assistance required by the focal agencies, concerning their ratification/accession efforts specifically on obtaining the Certificates of Concurrence (COC) from concerned agencies.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary for Maritime, Atty. Elmer Francisco U. Sarmiento, presided over the meeting as Chairperson. He emphasized the importance of upholding the commitment to staying at the forefront of international maritime developments and thoroughly examining the benefits of acceding to relevant maritime instruments to advance the Philippine maritime industry.

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format and attended by representatives from the Committee member agencies, including DOTr-Maritime, MARINA, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), the DA Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), the Cebu Port Authority (CPA), and the UP Marine Science Institute.

View photos here