Philippines wins seat in CLCS

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines won a seat in the Asia-Pacific Group (APG) of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) 2023-2028, the first time the archipelagic state will serve in the commission, the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations in New York said yesterday.

In elections held during the 32nd Meeting of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) at the General Assembly in New York on June 15, the mission said the Philippines competed with eight other candidates under the APG, and successfully reached the required majority of votes.

Out of a total 164 states parties present and voting, the Philippines garnered 113 votes after four tough rounds.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines’ candidate Deputy Administrator Efren Carandang is one of the country’s most eminently qualified technical experts for the CLCS, with quality management skills.

“This is the first time that the Philippines, an archipelagic state, will serve in the Commission. Philippine election promotes the principle of rotation, inclusion, and representation among UNCLOS States,” the Philippine Mission said in a post on Twitter.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. thanked countries that voted for the Philippines’ candidate as he called the victory the “voice” of law in the oceans and seas and the end of “cartelized” choices in the universal institution.

“To the countries that voted for the candidate of the Philippines which is the only one that studies to fight and win, on the merits, the rights of countries with continental shelfs, I thank you,” Locsin tweeted. “This is not a job but a mission.”

The secretary also thanked China for voting for the Philippines’ candidate despite differences.

“Thank you China for your vote. We have differences, sure; we tried but failed to bridge them but the endeavor was sincere; we are patriots each of our respective causes; but we have a deep respect and genuine affection for each other,” he added.

Carandang, deputy administrator of the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, is one of the Philippines’ foremost authorities on the technical aspects of the law of the sea, with extensive experience in hydrography.

The CLCS, an expert body established by the 1982 UNCLOS, is meant to facilitate the implementation of the convention in respect to the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf.

On Wednesday, Locsin said he was “extremely disappointed” with Australia for not supporting the Philippines’ candidature to the CLCS. He said he thought Australia was the Philippines’ partner in upholding rules-based order in the maritime domain.