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  • 11 Feb 2015

Jakarta, Indonesia – The Philippines became the fifth country, out of six member countries, to complete its ratification process for the Agreement on the Establishment of the Regional Secretariat of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF).

In its notification to the Interim Regional Secretariat of CTI-CFF, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia confirmed that the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Jakarta transmitted the instrument of ratification on 8 January 2015.

The instrument of ratification was sent to Indonesia, which serves as the Depository of the original Agreement document and ratification instruments. In the document, President Benigno S. Aquino acknowledged the importance of the Agreement for the legal personality of the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat and officially ratified it.

With this submission, the Philippines followed Malaysia, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste, which had already submitted their ratification instruments to the Depository. This step further strengthens the legal, institutional, and financial foundations of the Regional Secretariat, following the Agreement’s entry into force on 27 November 2014 and the appointment of an Executive Director during the 10th Senior Officials Meeting in Dili, Timor-Leste, in early November 2014.

Prof. Sjarief Widjaja, Chairman of CTI-CFF IRS, said, “The submission of the ratification instrument by the Philippines is a memorable New Year’s present for CTI-CFF. It boosts the spirit of the IRS as it continues the transition process toward the operationalization of a strong permanent Regional Secretariat, benefiting all member countries in the management of sustainable marine resources.”

He mentioned that the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat building and CTI Center have been built by the Government of Indonesia in Manado, North Sulawesi. The building is located on the historic site where the leaders of the six Coral Triangle countries came together for the CTI Summit and World Ocean Conference in 2009. Constructed on 6,084 square meters of land, the CTI Center will serve as the hub for coordination, facilitation, and collaboration among the six member countries, eight working groups, and seven official partners of CTI-CFF, under the guidance of the Council of Ministers and the Committee of Senior Officials.

 

For further information, please contact:

  • M. Eko Rudianto – Vice Chair I CTI-CFF IRS / Director of Marine and Coast, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Mobile: +62 811802593, Email: mrudiant@yahoo.com
  • Lilly Aprilya Pregiwati – Head of Center for Data, Statistics and Information, Mobile: +62 8129479597, Email: lillya38@yahoo.com