Philippine Embassy in Bahrain holds forum on United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Forty Filipino community leaders attended a forum on United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea, which was organised by the Philippine Embassy at its grounds on 16 September. The event was part of the commemoration of the annual Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month with the theme, “Our Seas, Our Livelihood, Our Life Source: A Wholeof-Nation Approach Towards Raising Maritime and Ocean Awareness.” Charge de Affaires Anne Jalando-on Louis said that the forum aims to promote awareness in protecting marine environment and management of marine resources.
“As an archipelagic country, the Philippines is blessed with a rich marine biodiversity and maritime environment. While raising awareness on maritime issues and concerns, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) can find time inspiring other Filipinos to realise their potential to accomplish great things,” she said. Louis also extended her gratitude to the community leaders for sharing their time in attending the forum.
Meanwhile, Vice Consul Blitz B. Sumagaysay presented notable facts and figures of the Philippines as a maritime nation. He explained relevant information on 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which provides a general normative framework for the regulation of ocean space.
Mary Jane Montemor, a senior GIS Engineer in Bahrain and formerly worked at the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), presented an interactive map on maritime boundaries such as territorial water, baseline, territorial water, contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone.
In his closing remarks, Captain Francis C. Cacho, Armed Forces of the Philippines Senior National Representative (AFPSNR) to the Combined Maritime Forces in the Kingdom of Bahrain, shared his views and experiences towards sustaining environmental and ecological integrity.
“May this event strengthen our understanding on maritime issues,” Captain Cacho reminded the attendees. Present in the discussion were Labour Attache, Atty. Vic Cabe, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Welfare Officer, Redina Manlapaz and personnel from the Philippine Embassy. Copies of reading materials from the Department of Foregin Affairs’s Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy (OPCD) were distributed to the participants.
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