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The Philippines contributed $30,000 to the International Maritime Organization for its Integrated Technical Cooperation Program
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The donation aims to support capacity development in areas such as maritime safety, security, anti-piracy and pollution control
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The program is vital for helping developing countries adhere to IMO regulations, promoting safer shipping and environmental protection
The Philippines contributed $30,000 to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for its Integrated Technical Cooperation Program (ITCP), an initiative that assists countries in complying with IMO regulations.
The donation was formalized in a Letter of Agreement between the IMO and the Philippines. Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Teodoro Locsin Jr., as the permanent representative of the Philippines to the IMO, presented the donation to Kitack Lim, IMO secretary-general, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) said in a statement.
Maritime attaché Atty Jean Ver Pia announced the Philippines’ contribution during the margins of the 73rd Session of the IMO Technical Cooperation Committee (TC73) held at the IMO headquarters in London on October 16-19, where she underscored the role of the Philippines in sustaining the IMO’s technical cooperation programs.
Pia explained the donation will fund capacity development activities for the Philippines and other IMO Member States, focusing on maritime safety, maritime security, including casualty investigations and anti-piracy measures, as well as pollution control.
The ITCP helps countries strengthen their capacities to comply with IMO regulations. Capacity-building in the maritime sector is crucial for developing countries to implement safer shipping, environmental protection, and smoother international maritime traffic.
Following the recent IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) in the Philippines from October 2 to 9, MARINA said the country will explore capacity-building opportunities to address identified gaps through the ITCP.
READ: PH committed to maritime safety, compliance amid IMO audit
The IMO is expected to create an integrated ITCP for 2024-2025 based on the Consolidated Audit Summary Reports of the IMSAS, which assess a country’s compliance with IMO treaty instruments.
The Philippines expressed appreciation for ongoing technical cooperation programs, including South Korea’s SMART SEA Project and China’s draft Training Manual on Domestic Ferry Safety.
The IMO Secretariat and the World Maritime University were acknowledged for innovative learning systems such as e-learning courses, along with the International Association of Maritime Universities for peer-assisted evaluation schemes as alternative capacity-building methods.
The Philippines is a longstanding member of the IMO since 1964 and an active member of the IMO Council since 1997. This year, the Philippines seeks reelection to the IMO Council under Category C for the 2024 to 2025 term.
