The Lloyd’s Joint War Committee (JWC) has decided to delist Davao Gulf from its areas with perceived enhanced risk, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The DFA said that Lloyd's decision would make anchorage areas in Davao Gulf – particularly Malalag and Bunawan Bays, Pujada Bay, and Mayo Bay – a more attractive option for international shipping companies which intend to lay-up their idle vessels at the facilities opened by the Philippine Government for this purpose.

"The decision taken by the Joint War Committee a few days ago validates the satisfactory efforts undertaken by Philippine government agencies to make Mindanao a stable and peaceful place for international shipping companies to do business," said Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo, permanent representative to the Internatonal Maritime Organization (IMO).

Last May, MARINA Administrator Maria Elena Bautista led a Philippine delegation to meet with officials of Aegis Defence Services (Aegis), the external security consultant of JWC, to formally brief them on the peace and order situation in Davao Gulf.

Administrator Bautista highlighted the peaceful environment in Davao Gulf which is supportive of attracting international shipping companies to lay up their idle merchant vessels in the area.

A team from Aegis was then invited to the Philippines in mid-August to inspect the measures undertaken by the national and local government agencies to eliminate or minimize any security risk to international merchant vessels that would be availing of the lay-up facilities in Davao Gulf. It was this team that briefed the JWC on the situation prevailing in the Davao Gulf Area.

The JWC is composed of underwriting representatives from both the Lloyd’s and company markets of the International Underwriting Association. It represents the interest of those writing war and related risks within the London market and meets quarterly. (EHL)