Quezon City, Philippines — Professor Tommy Koh, Singapore's Ambassador-At-Large, joins the roster of speakers who will keynote the East Asian Seas Congress 2009. Prof. Koh will share experiences on negotiating and resolving disputes between and among diverse cultures and regions with a focus on Ocean and Coastal Governance.Throughout his professional career, Prof.

Quezon City, Philippines — In celebration of World Oceans Day, Prof. Raphael P. M. Lotilla, PEMSEA Resource Facility Executive Director was recently a guest on the television programs Abante Pilipinas (Onward Philippines) and One Morning Show. Prof. Lotilla introduced PEMSEA during the programs as well as the application of integrated coastal management (ICM) for the sustainable development of marine and coastal areas in the East Asian Seas region.

Shandong, PR China — The country's State Oceanic Administration (SOA), PEMSEA and Ocean Bureau officials from nine provinces and eleven cities launched the third phase of the SOA-PEMSEA cooperation at the "National Inception Workshop for the Development and Implementation of SDS-SEA in China" on 5-6 June in Dongying, Shandong, PR China. The highlight of the event was the signing of the three agreements for the third phase of SOA-PEMSEA between Director-General of International Cooperation Dr. Zhang Zhanhai of SOA and Prof. Raphael P.M. Lotilla, Executive Director of PEMSEA.

Northern Mindanao, Philippines — Macajalar Bay is an important fishing ground and major industrial center in Northern Mindanao in the Philippines. Twelve coastal municipalities and two cities surrounding the Macajalar Bay recently forged an Alliance - the Macajalar Bay Development Alliance (MBDA) – in which parties agree to collaborate and pool their resources to ensure the sustainable development of the Bay.

Manila, Philippines — The Philippines' Earth Day 2009 celebration carried the theme "Tubig at Lupa Buhayin, Hangin Linisin, Batas Tuparin" (Revive Water and Land, Clean the Air, Enforce Laws).The event kicked off with a welcome message by former Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary and current Chair of the Earth Day Network Philippines, Elisea G. Gozun. United States Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney, in her opening remarks, encouraged everyone to help protect Mother Earth.

Kampot Preah, Cambodia — Near the Kampot-Preah Sihanouk Province border in Cambodia is a quiet fishing area of Kampong Smach. Kampong Smach is one of the longest river systems in Preah Sihanouk Coastal Province, and was once "famous" for a major French Development project in the 1990s. Saltwater intrusion rendered rice paddies almost uncultivable but polders were soon rehabilitated which enabled families to again cultivate around 10,000 ha of rice paddies.

 

Danang City, Viet Nam — Local government executives representing Danang City, Quang Nam Province and Thua Thien-Hue Province have signed Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) with PEMSEA, signifying their commitment to scale up their respective ICM programs in Viet Nam.

Zhuhai, Guangdong, PR China — As part of the country's annual Ocean Day celebrations, various marine activities were held in major coastal cities throughout PR China. Zhuhai in Guangdong Province, provided the major venue for activities on the China Ocean Day.Celebrations included a major opening ceremony on 18 July with more than one thousand participants composed of key officials from around the country, as well as a key member of the State Council, Mr. Wang Yang; the deputy speaker of the People's Assembly, Mr.

Quezon City, Philippines — Several award-winning climate change and marine and coastal management experts are expected to hold dynamic discussions and workshops during the 2nd EAS Youth Forum, one of the special events of the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2009. Among these are: Dr. Felino Lansigan of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB); Dr. Beverly Goh of the National Institute of Education of Singapore (NIE); Dr. Laura T. David of the University of the Philippines – Marine Science Institute (UP MSI); Dr.

Quezon City, Philippines — The 2nd EAS Youth Forum, one of the special events of the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2009, will feature the Legislators Hour, where participants will get a rare chance to meet and speak with their countries' environment ministers and legislators.According to Prof. Raphael P.M. Lotilla, Executive Director of the PEMSEA Resource Facility, "Some youths may feel that they are incapable of significantly contributing to efforts being done to address climate change and the degradation of the marine and coastal environment.