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IMSAS Council approves creation of a Drafting Group to review and propose amendments to Executive Order No. 84, Series of 2019
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Move aims to strengthen inter-agency coordination ahead of the Philippines’ next IMO Member State Audit Scheme cycle
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Council also reviewed progress on corrective actions from the country’s previous IMSAS audit
The IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) Council has approved the creation of a Drafting Group tasked with reviewing and proposing amendments to Executive Order No. 84, Series of 2019, as the Philippines works to strengthen its institutional framework and inter-agency coordination for compliance with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The Council approved the resolution during its first meeting for 2026, held on August 13, as the country continues to refine its systems and processes ahead of the next cycle of the IMSAS Audit, the Maritime Industry Authority said in a statement.
The proposed amendments to EO 84 are intended to sharpen coordination among government agencies involved in maritime governance and to reinforce the Philippines’ implementation and enforcement of mandatory IMO instruments, along with other obligations the country holds as an IMO Member State.
Beyond the drafting group’s creation, the Council also received updates on the implementation of corrective action plans stemming from the Philippines’ previous IMSAS audit. Agencies involved reported on measures taken to address findings identified in that audit and to improve national systems for compliance with applicable IMO instruments going forward.
The hybrid meeting brought together representatives from the Department of Transportation, the Department of Foreign Affairs, MARINA, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine Ports Authority, and the Cebu Port Authority, reflecting the multi-agency coordination the amendments themselves are designed to reinforce.
