The Philippines has vowed to advance seafarers’ welfare in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council agenda after securing a seat in a re-election victory last week.

The country received 136 votes out of the possible 168 votes, ranking with the fourth highest number of votes among countries vying for a category C seat on the IMO Council for 2024-2025.

The elections were held last Dec. 1 during the 33rd IMO Assembly at the IMO Headquarters in London.

The DFA, in a Dec. 5 statement, said this is a huge leap from the 112 votes the country received in 2021, “showing the trust and confidence of IMO member states to the maritime credentials of the Philippines”.

Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Permanent Representative to the IMO Teodoro Locsin Jr. vowed that the Philippines would keep seafarers at the center of the IMO’s agenda.

“It is not about leaving some behind in any worthy field of human endeavor, but of going farther forward, as can only be done by women and men together,” he said in his speech.

“For those of us who are personally descended from seafarers, the sea will always hold the perfume promise of return and the fragrance of hope.”

Other elected countries in the IMO Council under category C or countries that have a special interest in maritime transport or navigation are Bahamas, Bangladesh, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Türkiye. (PNA)