PHL envoy elected chairman of int'l mobile satellite assembly session

The Philippines has been elected to chair the session of an international body handling public satellite safety and security communication services, the Philippine embassy to the United Kingdom said Wednesday.

Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Enrique Manalo was elected chairman of the 23rd Session of the International Mobile Satellite Organization Assembly in London.

Nominating Manalo was Monaco representative Armelle Roudaut-Lafon, who cited his diplomatic experience in chairing international meetings.

China, Malaysia, Spain, the Marshall Islands, Poland, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Republic of Korea, Oman, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Iran, Liberia and Argentina seconded his nomination.

"Ambassador Manalo chairs the 99-member state Assembly which meets biennially. The Assembly will elect the new IMSO Director General who will take over from Director General Esteban Pacha-Vicente of Spain," the embassy said.

As the largest nationality of seafarers, the Philippines benefits greatly from these mobile satellite communication systems, the embassy added.

The International Maritime Organization is hosting the 23rd Session of the IMSO Assembly from November 25 to 28.

IMSO, established in 1979, is an intergovernmental organization that oversees certain public satellite safety and security communication services.

These include the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and the Long-Range Identification and Tracking of Ships (LRIT) system.

"GMDSS ensures timely response of search-and-rescue teams to ships in distress while the LRIT system allows the identification and tracking of merchant ships in addressing security concerns," the embassy said. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News

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