UNITED KINGDOM, LONDON—The Philippines highlighted the importance of the human element in achieving the IMO’s overall objectives during the 74th Session of the Technical Cooperation Committee (TC74), held from 24 to 28 June 2024.

The Philippine delegation headed by the Philippine Maritime Attaché in London, Atty. Jean Ver P. Pia highlighted the need for upskilling hundreds and thousands of seafarers, mentioning its challenges in enhancing maritime training establishments, putting in proper facilities and equipment, and competent maritime trainers. In response to these challenges, the IMO and the government of the Philippines entered into an agreement wherein the Philippines contributed a modest amount of US$30,000 for 2024 to support the IMO’s Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP). This aims to contribute to implementing the IMO strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping, such as developing seafarers’ training and skills programmes, among others. The intended beneficiaries of the training are technical personnel from Philippine government agencies and other interested member states.

To further highlight the importance of the human element in these capacity-building initiatives, the Philippines also participated in the Working Group for the development of a comprehensive IMO capacity-development strategy, wherein the human element was included as one of the cross-cutting themes, along with women’s empowerment and gender mainstreaming.
The Philippine delegation also strongly supported the Regional Presence Scheme in facilitating IMO’s technical cooperation implementation on the ground, being the host country for the Regional Presence Office in East Asia based in the Philippines for 20 years.

In addition to the TC meetings, the Philippine delegation likewise participated during side meetings on collaboration with IMO, including projects to which the Philippines is a Lead Partnering Country. These include the Donor Partnership Meeting on the Glofouling Project and the SMART-C Projects. They also participated in the Informal Workshop and Exhibition on Accessing IMO’s Technical Cooperation Assistance and Enhancing Technical Cooperation Delivery, to which the Philippines greatly benefited from capacity programs received that helped the maritime administration in the implementation of the IMO Conventions.

The TC is an arm of the Organization that ensures the implementation of the IMO’s capacity-building program and technical cooperation projects in support to the UN-SDGs and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Philippine delegation is composed of representatives from Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and London, PE.

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