PH, Palau hold first technical meeting on exclusive economic zone boundaries

DFA Photo

Atty. Gilberto G.B. Asuque, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, Japan and Mr. Fritz Koshiba, Senior Adviser to the President of the Republic of Palau and Chairman of the Palau Territory and Boundary Task Force, exchange the signed Record of Discussion on the First Technical Meeting on Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Boundaries between the Philippines and Palau.

The two officials led their respective countries’ delegations to the talks which were held at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Pasay City last April 7. The talks aim to identify the base points and the projection of the EEZs of the Philippines and Palau.

DFA Photo

Both sides agreed to continue their discussions on the EEZ including the potential area of overlap.

Members of the Philippine Delegation include: Acting Assistant Secretary Lilybeth Deapera, DFA-Ocean Concerns Office (OCO); Deputy Administrator Efren P. Carandang, National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA); Commander Herbert L. Catapan, Chief of NAMRIA’s Nautical Charting Division; Engineer Dennis Arsenio Bringas, a NAMRIA Geophysicist; Commander Aldrin B. Doctor, the Philippine Navy’s Deputy Assistant Chief of Naval Staff for Plans (N5); Lt. Ronald Pancipane, Philippine Coast Guard Legal Service; Captain Jacinto Cablayan, Director of NAMRIA’s Hydrography Branch; and Director Josel Mostajo, DFA-OCO.

DFA Photos

The Palau Delegation, on the other hand, was composed of Mr. Ngeriki Baules, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Palau in Manila; Hon. Rebluud Kesolei, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the President; and technical staff members, Messrs Jerrold Knight and David Idlip.

Press release and photos courtesy of the Department of Foreign Affairs, 08 April 2014.