http://www.pemsea.org PEMSEA News chronicles on-the-ground experiences and activities in PEMSEA sites and hotspots. Community-based initiatives, such as mangrove planting, coastal cleanups and waste management, are highlighted in the articles, as well as other workshops, conferences and programs organized or participated in by the Regional Programme. daily 1 2008-01-18T08:37:04Z http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/pemsea-contribution-to-coastal-tourism-recognized The Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) received a special recognition from the Sustainable Coastal Tourism in Asia (SCOTIA), a United States-Agency for International Development (USAID) Program, for its continuous support in promoting coastal tourism through its Public-Private Partnership initiatives for the development of adequate infrastructure for sanitation in Puerto Galera. Prof. Raphael P.M. Lotilla, PEMSEA Executive Director, received the certificate from SCOTIA Team Leader, Ms. Grace Favila; US-AID Representative Mr. John Lindborg; and Secretary Joseph Durano of the Department of Tourism, during the Sustainable Coastal Tourism Conference held on 28 May in Manila. No publisher webmaster 2008-06-18T01:43:45Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/vietnam-province-initiates-replication-of-danang2019s-icm-project-experience Thua Thien Hue is one of four provinces in Vietnam’s central region economic zone. The province is bordered on the north by Quang Tri Province, on the south by Danang City, on the west by Lao PDR, and on the east by the East Sea. The lagoon system in the coastal area embodies a unique eco-system, and has significant potential for development as an ecotourism site. No publisher webmaster 2008-06-18T01:40:19Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/guimaras-aims-high-towards-achieving-its-sustainable-development-targets Guimaras, an island province of the Philippines, located in the western Visayas, is well-known for its mangoes - its signature product; its pristine beaches and coves; and more recently, as the site of the worst oil spill in the history of the Philippines. On 11 August 2006, two million liters of bunker fuel were spilled into the Guimaras coast, causing an environmental and economic disaster that seriously affected more than half of its population living along its 238-km coastline that depended on the coastal and marine resources for their livelihood.. The results of the rapid damage assessment showed the magnitude of impacts on the ecosystems and population which were manifested in the loss of livelihood, health problems and degradation of the important coastal habitats including mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass beds. No publisher webmaster 2008-06-18T03:24:43Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/philippines-hosts-eas-congress-2009-venue-set-in-manila The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines, and the PEMSEA Resource Facility have confirmed that the site of the EAS Congress 2009 will be Manila, Philippines. The date for the Congress is set for 23 -27 November 2009. No publisher webmaster 2008-06-18T03:25:42Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/xiamen-gears-up-for-2008-world-ocean-week-xwow Xiamen, PR China - The Xiamen Municipal Government is aiming to exceed the achievements of the 2007 XWOW, which was attended by 500 participants from 33 countries. To meet the challenge, the Xiamen Oceans and Fisheries Bureau brought together representatives from the State Oceanic Administration, the United Nations Development Programme in China, Xiamen University, the Fujian Provincial Oceans and Fisheries Bureau, and PEMSEA to plan and discuss the organization of the 2008 XWOW, scheduled on 7-13 November. The First Organizing Committee meeting was held in Xiamen on 23 April. No publisher webmaster 2008-06-18T01:02:24Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/soc-evaluates-icm-implementation-on-the-ground Batangas, Philippines - Fourteen years have passed since integrated coastal management (ICM) was initiated in the Batangas Bay region. The experience has since been been replicated in two other bays in the province, namely the Balayan and Adjacent Bays, and the Tayabas and Adjacent Bays region. But apart from the geographical expansion of ICM efforts, has there really been progress achieved on the ground. Has ICM created impacts on the sustainable marine and coastal environment and more importantly to the well-being of Batangueños? No publisher webmaster 2008-06-18T03:28:36Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/pemsea-welcomes-new-prf-staff PEMSEA welcomes Ms. Maida Aguinaldo, Mr. Renato Cardinal, Mr. John Eric Dylan Saet and Mr. Andre Jon Uychiaoco to the PEMSEA Resource Facility. No publisher webmaster 2008-06-18T01:06:01Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/the-philippines-announces-the-hosting-of-the-east-asian-seas-congress-2009 The Government of the Philippines through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced today, 5 June 2008, its hosting of the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2009, to be held in Manila on 23-27 November 2009 at the Philippine International Convention Center. Through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between DENR and the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), the Philippines formalized its commitment to host the international event and provide the necessary in-country support and preparations. The MOA was signed between DENR Secretary Jose L. Atienza, Jr. and PEMSEA Executive Director Raphael P. M. Lotilla. No publisher webmaster EAS Congress 2009 2008-06-18T03:00:00Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/new-executive-director-of-pemsea-announced Hanoi, Vietnam – PEMSEA has announced the designation of Mr. Raphael P.M. Lotilla as the new Executive Director of the PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF). No publisher webmaster 2008-05-14T07:02:31Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/training-workshop-on-the-application-of-the-iims-for-river-basins Quezon City, Philippines -- Twenty-six participants from various regional offices of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the provincial government of Batangas attended a training workshop on the Application of the Integrated Information Management System for River Basins (IIMS-RB) conducted from 12-14 March by PEMSEA and DENR. This workshop was a result of DENR’s recognition of the potential of the IIMS based on the experiences of the Manila Bay Environmental Management Project, as well as DENR’s subsequent desire to mainstream the IIMS within DENR offices nationwide. No publisher webmaster 2008-05-08T05:05:55Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/pemsea-participates-in-philippine-water-week The Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) spearheaded the Philippine Water Week (24-28 March), as part of the local observance of the World Water Day. PEMSEA participated in the five-day event marked by water resource-related activities. No publisher webmaster 2008-05-08T04:57:03Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/from-hills-to-coasts-the-integrated-information-management-system-covers-them-all Quezon City, Philippines -- PEMSEA’s Integrated Information Management System for Coastal and Marine Environments (IIMS) has been expanded, to include integrated management of river basins and coastal areas. No publisher webmaster 2008-05-07T08:58:57Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/beyond-the-region-pemsea-shares-icm-experience-in-sudan Khartoum, Sudan — PEMSEA has been assisting with the development of a national integrated coastal management (ICM) programme in Sudan, as a cooperative inter-regional arrangement with the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA). PERSGA is an intergovernmental body dedicated to the conservation of the coastal and marine environments found in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aqaba, Gulf of Suez, Suez Canal and Gulf of Aden. Sudan is one of the seven member states of PERSGA. No publisher webmaster 2008-05-07T07:31:00Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/occheauteal-beach-gets-a-201cface-lift201d From a sleepy, laid back coastal municipality a few years back, Sihanoukville is fast catching up with Siem Reap as one of Cambodia’s top tourist destinations, attracting more local and international tourists with its relaxing white beaches and seafood restaurants. The steady influx of tourists is also brought in by the opening of the Kangkeng Airport, enhancing mobility among tourists and making it possible for them to hop from one destination to another. No publisher webmaster 2008-05-08T08:51:50Z News Item http://www.pemsea.org/about-pemsea/pemsea-news/coastal-community-gears-up-to-be-an-eco-village Almost an hour away from downtown Sihanoukville — through the bumpy stretch of unpaved road off Highway No. 4 — lies Village 3 in Sangkat Tonorolok. It is a small fishing village in Stung Hav, the site of the follow-through project of the Small Grants Programme (SGP)-PEMSEA Joint Communiqué that seeks to “build” an eco-village. The pilot village of 200-250 families is located near the freshwater reservoir — currently being completed with funding support from the UNDP TRAC fund and GEF SGP Cambodia. Aside from providing freshwater sources for agricultural production, the reservoir is also being eyed to be a lagoon-like tourist attraction. No publisher webmaster 2008-05-07T07:50:12Z News Item