Resolution Concurring in the Accession to the Protocol of 1988 Relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974

March 5, 2018

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 098

RESOLUTION CONCURRING IN THE ACCESSION TO THE PROTOCOL OF 1988 RELATING TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA, 1974

WHEREAS, the Constitution, Article VII, Section 21, states: "No treaty or international agreement shall be valid and effective unless concurred in by at least two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate";

WHEREAS, the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS PROTOCOL 88) was adopted on 17 February 1978;

WHEREAS, the SOLAS PROTOCOL 88 introduced a new Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC) to harmonize with two (2) other Conventions, namely: the International Convention on Load Lines; and the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, to lessen the problems caused by the variations in the requirements under the said instruments for the survey and certification of ships, and to reduce costs for shipowners and administrations by enabling the required surveys to be carried out at the same time;

WHEREAS, the Protocol, once ratified by the Philippines, a single and uniform system of survey and certification to all types of domestic ships can be applied;

WHEREAS, the President of the Philippines ratified the Protocol on 17 July 2017 and submitted it to the Senate for concurrence, in accordance with the Constitution;

WHEREAS, in the hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on 20 February 2018, the following government agencies endorsed the concurrence to the accession to the Protocol:

1) Department of Foreign Affairs;

2) Department of Justice;

3) Philippine Ports Authority;

4) Maritime Industry Authority; and

5) Philippine Navy.

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Philippine Senate concur, as it hereby concurs, in the Philippine accession to the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974. caITAC

Resolved, finally, That the President of the Philippines may, with the concurrence of two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate, withdraw from the Protocol.

Adopted,

(SGD.) AQUILINO "KOKO" PIMENTEL III

President of the Senate

This Resolution was adopted by the Senate on March 5, 2018.

(SGD.) LUTGARDO B. BARBOSecretary of the Senate