Executive Order No. 159 (2021)

Policy

Section 1. Policy. The State is committed to remain at the forefront of international maritime developments, and identify ways to improve its maritime sector by integrating and empowering its Maritime Administration to study new maritime conventions and instruments for ratification, determine the responsibilities required thereby, and conduct a national interest analysis to ascertain their benefits to the country.

Section 2. Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee to Facilitate the Ratification of/Accession to and Implementation of Maritime Conventions. The ICCRIMC under Department Order No. 2015-016 (s. 2015) of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is hereby reconstituted and renamed as the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee to Facilitate the Ratification of/Accession to and Implementation of Maritime Conventions.

The Committee shall be composed of designated representatives from the following departments and agencies:

Chairperson :

Department of Transportation

Vice Chairperson :

Department of Foreign Affairs

Members :

Department of Science and Technology

Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)

Philippine Coast Guard

Philippine Ports Authority

Cebu Port Authority

Department of Agriculture — Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) — Environmental Management Bureau

DENR -Biodiversity Management Bureau

University of the Philippines (UP) — Marine Science Institute

UP — Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology

The Overseas Shipping Service of the MARINA shall serve as the Secretariat of the Committee, which shall provide technical and administrative support thereto. The Secretariat shall be the central repository of all records of the Committee.

Functions of the Committee

Section 3. Functions of the Committee. Subject to existing laws, regulations and policies, and consistent with the objectives of the PMS 2020-2024, the Committee shall have the following functions:

a. Consider new international maritime conventions for possible ratification or accession, conduct a national interest analysis for the purpose, and study measures needed to satisfy convention requirements, as well as the implications on the established maritime operations in the country;

b. Develop and adopt a National Programme (NWP) to chart timelines and determine frequency of meetings, assign agency roles and responsibilities, and ensure the eventual implementation and enforcement of adopted instruments, consistent with the country—s overall maritime strategy;

c. Review and endorse proposed legislation, national policies and administrative regulations, to support the implementation of adopted instruments;

d. Conduct information campaigns and seminars with policy-makers and stakeholders to raise awareness on the requirements and benefits of IMO instruments, including those being proposed for legislation;

e. Facilitate capacity development initiatives for technical personnel;

f. Engage in dialogue with other agencies, academic institutions, investors, private associations, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders on issues relating to the maritime industry at large, and call on their support, including those of technical experts, to ensure that actions taken by the Committee are informed and supported by international best practices and evidence-based analyses;

g. Develop and implement a monitoring mechanism to assess the ratification or accession process; and

h. Perform other tasks that the President or the Executive Secretary may direct.

Creation of Technical Working Groups

Section 4.

Creation of Technical Working Groups. For each international maritime instrument or group of instruments under study or process, the Committee may create a Technical Working Group (TWG) composed mainly of representatives from the members of the said Committee, and designate a Lead Agency thereof.

Funding

Section 5.

Funding. The funding requirements for the participation and implementation of relevant activities shall be charged against existing appropriations of the members of the Committee, subject to availability thereof, and existing budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and regulations. Funding requirements for subsequent years shall be incorporated in the annual budget proposals of the members of Committee, subject to the usual budget process.

Separability

Section 6.

Separability. If any section or part of this Order is declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Repeal

Section 7.

Repeal. All orders, rules and regulations, issuances, or any part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Order are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

Effectivity

Section 8.

Effectivity. This Order shall take effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 7!ᕼdMᗄ7

Done in the City of Manila, this 28th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-One.

(SGD.) RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE

By Authority of the President:

(SGD.) SALVADOR C. MEDIALDEA Executive Secretary