PH contributes $30,000 to IMO's maritime security program

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 23) – The Philippines contributed $30,000 (₱1.7 million) to the Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to fund activities on maritime safety and security, the country's maritime authority said in a statement on Monday.

“The contribution will be utilized to fund capacity-development activities relating to maritime safety, maritime security, particularly maritime casualty investigations or anti-piracy workshops and prevention and control of marine pollution for suitable technical personnel of the Philippines and other interested IMO Member States,” Maritime Attache and Member of the Philippine delegation Atty. Jean Ver Pia was quoted as saying during the margins of the 73rd Session of the IMO Technical Cooperation Committee in London on Oct. 16 to 19.

The Philippines is a major supplier of seafarers, with 489,000 Filipino sailors working on ships all over the world in 2022, according to government data.

Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Teodoro Locsin Jr. presented the US$30,000 donation to IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim, according to the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

The IMO said the ITCP was established to assist developing countries in building up their capacities to effectively comply with the organization's regulations.

Technical cooperation programs that benefit Filipino maritime personnel include the global training for young seafarers of the Government of the Republic of Korea, development of a draft Training Manual on Domestic Ferry Safety of the People’s Republic of China, and e-learning courses of the IMO Secretariat and the World Maritime University, and other capacity building programs of the International Association of Maritime Universities, MARINA said.

The Philippines also assured the IMO that it will continue to host the Regional Presence Scheme in East Asia and its IMO Regional Coordinator, Atty Josephine Marie Uranza, for the implementation of the IMO Technical assistance needs of the Region, MARINA added.