Integrated River Basin Management Project Newsletter - Edition 8

The GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project continued to gain progress in the third quarter of 2025 with strengthened partnerships, wider knowledge sharing, and more active participation in amplifying best practices and local stories across the ASEAN region.

In the Philippines, national implementation advanced with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and PEMSEA Resource Facility sustaining collaboration for project implementation in the Pasac–Guagua Watershed and Imus–Ylang Ylang–Rio Grande Rivers. Additionally, consultations in these two river basins helped identify priority issues for pilot project development and implementation, focusing on addressing water scarcity, improving wastewater management, and promoting nature-based solutions.

In Malaysia, coordination with government counterparts was carried out in preparation for the official launch and full-scale implementation of the Project along the Kedah River Basin. For each participating ASEAN Member State, multistakeholder workshops on Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus were held to gather local perspectives and anecdotal information on changes and trends, including gender responsive approaches, relating to water, energy, food, ecosystem, and disaster risk reduction, and potential synergies and trade-offs across these sectors.

At the regional level, the Project expanded its knowledge and capacity building network through initiation of the establishment of IRBM Learning Centers for the Project and linked to the PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLC). The Project also participated in key international and regional platforms—from Korea’s 20th anniversary celebration of Total Pollutant Loading Management to the GEF Project Oversight Training in the East Asian Seas Region held in the Philippines —sharing lessons learned and best practices on project oversight and implementation.

The Project also highlighted the importance of visual storytelling through local narratives that can drive understanding and action during the GEF IW:LEARN webinar. The Project was also able to profile the Imus-Ylang Ylang-Rio Grande Rivers in the Philippines highlighting community realities and the steps the government has initiated in conserving this river basin.

These collective efforts reflect a shared commitment to integrated and inclusive river basin management - one that bridges science, governance, and community voices to build a more resilient and sustainable future for ASEAN’s river basins and watersheds and associated coastal and marine areas.
 

The 2025 PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) Forum, with the theme, “Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Blue Economy: Linking Climate, Nature and Energy,” was organized by PEMSEA Network of Local Governments, in collaboration with PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers, the Ministry of Environment (MoE) of Indonesia, PEMSEA Resource Facility, and hosted by Jakarta Province, Indonesia. The forum was held on September 16-18, 2025, at the Kempinski Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Dear PEMSEA community,

Sail through fresh news and stories this September!

In Jakarta, check out the PNLG Forum 2025, where more than 200 participants from nine countries gathered to showcase innovation and collaboration for coastal action, and read about Guimaras Governor Ma. Lucille Ledesma-Nava taking her oath as PNLG President for 2025–2028.

In Manila, know more about the GEF Regional Project Oversight Training which convened Operational Focal Points from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam, in collaboration with PEMSEA and the Philippines’ DENR.

In Busan, look back at the 20th anniversary of the Total Pollutant Loading Management System (TPLMS), joined by representatives from MOF, KMI, academic institutions, civil society groups, and discussions from Ms. Nancy Bermas, Regional Project Manager, GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project.

In China, read about PEMSEA Resource Facility Executive Director Aimee Gonzales’ presentation on integrated coastal management at the ICM and Maritime Economy Session, and her participation in the 11th Management Committee meeting of the China–PEMSEA Coastal Management Cooperation Center with officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources.

In the Philippines, know more about the MOF/PEMSEA ODA Project on Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas Region Regional Steering Committee’s approval of pilot projects to reduce marine plastics in its six sites, and the 7,000 volunteers mobilized for the International Coastal Cleanup.

Taking the global stage, learn how Orange Omengan, Communications and Knowledge Management Specialist of the IRBM Project, connects science with community realities through compelling visual storytelling with the IRBM Project at the GEF IW:LEARN webinar.

To wrap up the month, explore opportunities to join PEMSEA by visiting the careers section.

Dear PEMSEA community,

Catch the wave of news and stories this August!

Explore how PEMSEA is working with LGUS and local stakeholders across the region to advance sustainable coastal and ocean governance. Read about the recent visit to Dipolog City, where PEMSEA Executive Director Aimee Gonzales and Communications Officer Klyra Orbien met with local officials to review progress and discuss the next steps under the MOF/PEMSEA ODA Project on Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas.

Learn about how cities are implementing nature-based solutions through the Southeast Asia Conference on Nature-based Solutions in Singapore, where Ms. Gonzales introduced the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) as a vital platform for building resilience in coastal cities.

Discover insights from PEMSEA’s presentation at the FASPS D.R.I.P. Series: Discussions on Results and Innovations of Projects brown bag session, where the team introduced PEMSEA and shared project progress, initiatives, and latest updates.

From Malaysia, see how the Regional Project Management Unit of the Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project advanced work in the Kedah River Basin through high-level discussions, a Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus workshop, and a field visit.

Finally, check out PEMSEA’s latest consultancy opportunity on Business Development and Resource Mobilization!

The 17th East Asian Seas (EAS) Partnership Council (PC) Meeting was held on 22-23 July 2025 at Seda Vertis North, Quezon City in the Philippines (UTC+8).

Onsite participants of the meeting included the EAS PC Chair and Co-Chair; the Intergovernmental Session Chair and Co-Chair; the Technical Session Chair and Co-Chair; the Executive Director of the PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF); Country partners from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Philippines, RO Korea, Timor Leste, and Vietnam; Non-Country Partners from the Conservation International Philippines (CI PH), Ipieca GISEA, Korea Institute for Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation (KOEM), and the National Marine Hazard Mitigation Service (NMHMS).

Online participants included country partners from  Singapore and RO Korea; Non-Country Partners from the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB), International Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas Center (EMECS), Korea Maritime Institute, Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL), and the  Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML). The meeting was also attended by online observers from UNDP Philippines, Tokai University, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).