The Philippines is among the 20 countries elected to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council, which will be beneficial in ensuring the rights and safety of Filipino seafarers.

In a report to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine Ambassador to London Antonio Lagdameo said the Philippines was “re-elected” to the IMO Council under Category C during the 26th Session of the IMO Assembly held on November 27.

Category “C” is composed of states which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation, and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world.

Aside from the Philippines, other countries elected in Category “C” are Singapore, Turkey, Cyprus, Indonesia, Malta, Egypt, Nigeria, Malaysia, South Africa, Chile, Mexico, Denmark, Bahamas, Kenya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Australia, Jamaica, Belgium, and Thailand.

The Philippines has been a member of the IMO since 1964, and started serving in the Council in 1997.

“The IMO shall always be an important international organization where the Philippines intends to be active. As the primary source of globally competitive seafarers, we have to be in the IMO Council in order to advocate for better treatment and conditions for the world’s seafarers,” Lagdameo said.

“Our re-election to the Council would not have been possible without the support and trust given by an overwhelming number of governments represented in IMO for which we shall always be grateful,” he added.

The IMO is the specialized agency of the UN which deals with the technical and operational details of maritime relationship between its member states.