A University of the Philippines Diliman professor became the first Filipino to be elected to the Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority.

Dr. Mario Juan Aurelio of UPD National Institute of Geological Sciences is now etched in the halls of the United Nations following the feat.

Aurelio is one of 30 LTC members elected in 2017 by the Council of ISA from among the candidates nominated by State Parties who will hold office for five years, according to UPD.

Aurelio specializes in structural geology, tectonics, earthquake, and landslide hazards.

He earned both his doctorate degree in structural geology and tectonics in 1992 and his master of science in geodynamics of oceans and continents in 1989 from the Université Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris, France.

ISA is an autonomous international organization established under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1994 Agreement ‘through which State Parties to UNCLOS organize and control all mineral-resources-related activities in the international seabed area for the benefit of mankind as a whole.’

The LTC is an organ of the Council of ISA entrusted with various functions relating to activities on international seabed area.

It makes recommendations ‘on all matters relating to the exploration and exploitation of non-living marine resources,’ as per the LTC website.