PEMSEA eBulletin - July 2024
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PEMSEA eBulletin - July 2024

PUBLICATION DATE:

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

PUBLICATION TYPE:

Magazines and Newsletters

STATUS:

Available (Newsletter)

DESCRIPTION:

Dear PEMSEA community,

Welcome to the July e-bulletin.

We are pleased to announce the release of the program for the International Conference segment of the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2024, set to take place on 6-8 November 2024 with the theme “Blue Synergy for a Shared Future: One Sustainable and Resilient Ocean.” The International Conference will feature a range of activities, including Plenary and Parallel Sessions, Workshops, and exhibits. Do register to join using the button below.

Also in the news, the third edition of the IRBM Project Newsletter features the launch of the State of the River Basin Reporting for seven priority river basins, as well as the 2nd Regional Steering Committee Meeting in Siem Reap, Cambodia, field visits to the Kampong Bay River Basin, and discussions on the project scope and boundaries in the Pasac Watershed in the Philippines.

The ATSEA-2 Project is working on mangrove conservation in the Aru Archipelago’s Southeast Aru Marine Protected Area. The second quarter ATSEA-2 newsletter highlights key environmental initiatives in the Arafura and Timor Seas region, including the senior officials’ meeting in Brisbane that finalized the draft for the ATS Ministerial Forum. It also details the new Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for 2024-2033, adopted by Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste, along with the adoption of Papua New Guinea's first local-level fisheries management law and the inauguration of the Tok Derek Women’s Cooperative fish shop in Timor-Leste.

From our partners, the Second Bataan State of the Coasts (SOC) evaluated the province’s progress in ICM implementation from 2017-2022, using the First Bataan SOC report, which covered data from 2000 to 2015, as a baseline. The East Asian Seas Initiative on Clean Oceans (EASICO) project concluded noting achievements in citizen science and marine plastic pollution reduction. Dongying integrates industrial growth with environmental stewardship through its Integrated Coastal Zone Management strategy.  

RELATED PUBLICATIONS

  • Meeting Report 2nd RSC Meeting

    MOF/PEMSEA Marine Plastics ODA Project Second Regional Steering Committee Meeting

    The Regional Steering Committee (RSC) meeting is the main decision making body of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) Project entitled “Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas Region” comprised of the donor: the Government of Republic of Korea represented by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), and the participating countries: the Philippines, represented by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DENR) and Timor-Leste, represented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry (MALFF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment (MTE) and Ministry of State Administration (MSA). The Regional Project Management Unit (RPMU) of the PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) of Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) serves as the Secretariat to the RSC.

    The RSC meets at least once a year to report on the progress of the project, sets its strategic directions and guidance and approves work plan and budget for the following year’s project activities. The inaugural RSC meeting in 2023 was chaired by the Government of the Philippines, represented by H.E. Undersecretary Jonas Leones of the DENR. This year, the 2nd RSC meeting was chaired by the Government of Timor-Leste, as represented by the Advisor to the Secretary of State for Fisheries, MALFF, Mr. Aleixo Leonito Amaral.

    The 2nd RSC Meeting was held on 17 December 2024 via hybrid format at Radisson Park Inn, Quezon City and Zoom.

  • Meeting Report Intersessional RSC Meeting

    MOF/PEMSEA Marine Plastics ODA Project Intersessional Regional Steering Committee Meeting

    The Intersessional Regional Steering Committee (RSC) Meeting of the MOF/PEMSEA ODA Project on Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas Region was held on 17 September 2025 via Zoom, in line with the agreements made during the 2nd RSC Meeting in December 2024. The primary objective of this session was to review and endorse the detailed designs of pilot projects in the six Philippine project sites: Bulan, Calbayog, Daanbantayan, Dipolog, Puerto Princesa, and Tandag.

    These pilot projects form part of Component 2 of the ODA Project, which focuses on demonstrating best practices and locally adapted solutions for marine plastics reduction. Designed to respond directly to site-specific challenges identified during the baseline assessments, the pilot projects aim to improve local plastics and waste management systems, enhance community engagement, and reduce the leakage of plastic waste into coastal and marine environments. The interventions are aligned with national and local priorities.

    During the 2nd RSC meeting in 2024, the pilot project concepts for the Philippine sites were approved. Subsequently, the detailed designs of the pilot projects have been developed by the consulting firm, EECI, Inc., in close collaboration with local government units (LGUs) in 2025. These designs reflect the insights, technical inputs, feasibility, and on-ground realities gathered through extensive stakeholder consultations.

    The Intersessional RSC meeting was an essential step to ensure that the proposed interventions are sound, feasible, and ready for implementation. The outcomes will not only guide the pilot project implementation but also reinforce the collective commitment of project partners to achieve measurable impacts in reducing marine plastics in the Philippines.

    The meeting was organized in hybrid format: at the conference room of the office of Undersecretary Jonas R. Leones and through Zoom for the online participants.

  • Manual for Monitoring of Marine Plastic Debris

    Manual for Monitoring of Marine Plastic Debris

    This monitoring manual is designed to help to monitor and assess the distribution and abundance of marine plastic debris on MOF/PEMSEA ODA Project on Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas (EAS) Region.

  • Meeting Report 3rd RSC meeting

    MOF/PEMSEA Marine Plastics ODA Project Third Regional Steering Committee Meeting

    The Regional Steering Committee (RSC) meeting is the main decision making body of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) Project entitled “Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas Region” comprised of the donor: the Government of Republic of Korea represented by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), and the participating countries: the Philippines, represented by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DENR) and Timor-Leste, represented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry (MALFF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment (MTE) and Ministry of State Administration (MSA). The Regional Project Management Unit (RPMU) of the PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) of Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) serves as the Secretariat to the RSC.

    The RSC meets at least once a year to review project progress, provide strategic direction and guidance, and approve the work plan and budget for the subsequent year’s project activities. The Chair of the RSC rotates among the participating countries. The inaugural RSC meeting in 2023 was chaired by the Government of the Philippines, represented by H.E. Undersecretary Jonas Leones of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The second RSC meeting was chaired by the Government of Timor-Leste, represented by Mr. Aleixo Leonito Amaral, Advisor to the Secretary of State for Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry (MALFF). For the third RSC, the meeting was chaired by the Philippines, represented by Dr. Al O. Orolfo, Director of the DENR Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service (FASPS).

    The 3rd RSC Meeting was held via Zoom on 10 December 2025.

  • Meeting report Interim RSC Meeting

    MOF/PEMSEA Marine Plastics ODA Project Interim Regional Steering Committee Meeting

    The Regional Steering Committee (RSC) meeting is the highest decision making body of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) Project entitled “Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas Region” comprised of the donor: the Government of Republic of Korea represented by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), and the participating countries: the Philippines, represented by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DENR) and Timor-Leste, represented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry (MALFF) and the Ministry of Tourism and Environment (MTE). The Regional Project Management Unit (RPMU) of the PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) of Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) serves as the Secretariat.

    The RSC convenes every year to report the progress and approve work plan and budget for the following year’s project activities. The chairmanship is assumed by both participating countries on an alternating basis. This inaugural RSC meeting was organized in Manila, Philippines and chaired by the Government of the Philippines, represented by H.E. Undersecretary Jonas Leones of the DENR.

    The Interim RSC Meeting was held on 12 December 2023 via Zoom.