Hosted by the Government of the Philippines, the 2009 EAS Congress will be held in a nation that is composed of more than 7,000 islands.

Philippine Coasts and Oceans

The Philippines is an archipelago with more than 7, 100 islands and one of the longest coastlines in the world. The country is surrounded by prominent bodies of water such as the Pacific Ocean on the east, the South China Sea on the west and north, and the Celebes Sea on the South. The marine waters in the Philippines harbor the world’s center for tropical marine biodiversity, characterized by extensive coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves, with abundant fisheries and marine life.

The nation’s coasts and oceans provide a bountiful supply of goods (i.e., fish, oil, gas, minerals, salt and construction materials) and services (i.e., shoreline protection, biodiversity, water quality improvement, transportation, and recreation).

The tourism and recreational value of coastal ecosystems is significant. It is estimated that coral reefs alone contribute at least US$1.064 billion annually to the Philippine economy.

The Philippines is among the largest fish producers in the world. In international trade in fisheries, the Philippines ranked third in the ASEAN region in 2000. Annual total fisheries yield is estimated to be worth around US$2.5 billion or 4.3 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Coastal ecosystems as a whole are estimated to contribute on average, 60 percent of the GDP in the Philippines. The Philippine waters also provide excellent conditions for ocean thermal energy conversion systems in sites accessible to populated regions such as Manila and Davao.

Tourist Destinations

There are many interesting places to visit in the Philippines, ranging from some of the world's best beaches to marvelous historical and heritage sites.

To view some of the famous attractions in a slideshow, click on the image on the right.