Philippines Hosts EAS Congress 2009, Venue Set in Manila

Manila, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines, and the PEMSEA Resource Facility have confirmed that the site of the EAS Congress 2009 will be Manila, Philippines. The date for the Congress is set for 23 -27 November 2009.
A global center of marine diversity, an archipelago with more than 7,100 islands, and one of the longest coastlines in the world, the Philippines provides visitors with access to all that is wondrous and beautiful about the ocean and coastal resources, as well as insights into the challenges to sustainable development and management of those very resources.
The EAS Congress 2009 will be a venue for reviewing and sharing on-the-ground experiences in integrated management of coastal and marine resources. Carrying the theme, "Partnerships at Work: Local Implementation and Good Practices," the EAS Congress 2009 will highlight initiatives and good practices covering aspects of coastal and marine resource management and how government and non-government partnerships are contributing to regional and international environmental targets.
The City of Manila is a lively metropolis commanding a magnificent view of the world-famous Manila Bay and its golden sunset. This "Philippine Cosmopolitan Capital" blends regional cultures and flavors. Manila is home to Malacañan Palace, the official residence of the country's chief executive and one of the most historic structures in the Philippines. The Manila Cathedral, the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Manila, and the San Agustin Church, the oldest stone church in Metro Manila and one of the four Philippine Baroque Churches inscribed in UNESCO's World Heritage List.
The EAS Congress meetings and workshops will be held in Asia's first international convention center, the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). The conference is expected to gather both government and non-government partners and other stakeholders from the academe, local communities, youth, and private sector from within and outside the region, as well as international and regional organizations and institutions, to ensure the steady advancement of partnership initiatives for the sustainable development of the East Asian Seas region.
For more information on the EAS Congress, visit www.pemsea.org/eascongress.
For more information on Manila and the Philippines, visit the WOW Philippines website at: www.tourism.gov.ph.