Quezon City, Philippines — The 2nd meeting of the Executive Committee (EC) of the East Asian Seas Partnership Council was convened on 14–15 March at PEMSEA Office Building in Manila, Philippines. The meeting was in preparation for the 2nd Partnership Council meeting in July 2008.The meeting was attended by the three Council Chairs, namely, Dr. Chua Thia-Eng, Council Chair; Dr. Li Haiqing, Intergovernmental Session Chair; and Mr. Hiroshi Terashima, Technical Session chair, as well as representatives from UNDP Manila and other resource persons.

Quezon City, Philippines — Published a decade after the 1998 Year of the Ocean, the 25-chapter Securing the Oceans: Essays on Ocean Governance is primarily aimed at increasing the awareness of the general public on coasts and oceans and at strengthening their understanding of the functioning of the ocean, land-sea interactions, ocean dynamics and ecosystem functioning.

Sihanoukville, Cambodia — 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.

Quezon City, Philippines — Effective 1 April 2008, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) became the Executing Agency of the PEMSEA Regional Programme.Effective 1 April 2008, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) became the Executing Agency of the PEMSEA Regional Programme.With the entry of PEMSEA into its new phase and the approval of the GEF/UNDP/UNOPS/PEMSEA Project on the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA), a new implementing arrangement was set in place, with United Nations Development Programme se

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.

 

Manila, Philippines — 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.A three-day water technology exhibition and product exposition at the Protected Area and Wildlife Visitors' Center in Quezon City, Philippines, kicked off the celebration, along with a press briefing on the launching of the roadmap on water and sanitation.

Sihanoukville, Cambodia — 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.

 

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.

Hanoi, Viet Nam — PEMSEA has announced the designation of Mr. Raphael P.M. Lotilla as the new Executive Director of the PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF).The announcement was made on 9 April by Dr. Chua Thia-Eng, Chair of the East Asian Seas Partnership Council, during a Reception hosted by PEMSEA at the 4th Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts and Islands held in Hanoi, Viet Nam, from 7-11 April.Mr.

Quezon City, Philippines — During the East Asian Seas Congress 2006, the role of each stakeholder was highlighted as a crucial element in ocean protection, development and governance.