eBulletin - June 2025
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PEMSEA eBulletin - June 2025

PUBLICATION DATE:

Friday, June 27, 2025

PUBLICATION TYPE:

Magazines and Newsletters

STATUS:

Only Available Online

DESCRIPTION:

Dear PEMSEA community,

June is a celebration of the ocean and the environment!

This month, we celebrated three important events: World Environment Day, World Ocean Day, and the UN Ocean Conference held in Nice, France!

In the Philippines, PEMSEA, through the MOF/PEMSEA Project on Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas Region mobilized coastal clean-ups across six towns and cities in the Philippines in celebration of World Ocean Day.

At the UN Ocean Conference 3 (UNOC3) in Nice, France, PEMSEA Executive Director Aimee Gonzales, joined eight regional partners in formally launching the East Asian Seas Regional Marine Protected Area Collaborative Network and spoke in a high-level discussion on blue carbon partnerships aboard the Norwegian tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl.

In Bali, Indonesia, the GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project held its Third Regional Steering Committee Meeting back to back with the 25th Annual Meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Water Resources Management. Prior to the governance meetings, an orientation workshop introduced the Rapid Evaluation of the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (REWEFe) Nexus Toolkit to river basin stakeholders from seven ASEAN member states.

In Haikou, China, representatives from nine countries convened for the second PEMSEA Blue Carbon Technical Working Group Meeting to discuss the regional framework and national initiatives and standards for protecting vital blue carbon coastal ecosystems. Meanwhile, in Manila, Ms. Jessie Lee, PEMSEA's Technical Adviser on Marine Plastic Pollution  participated in the Seventh Meeting of COBSEA’s Working Group on Marine Litter, reinforcing collaborative action in combating marine plastic pollution in the region.

In Bangkok, Thailand Ms. Nancy Bermas represented PEMSEA in the Second Southeast Asia Environmental Systems Regional Workshop and Dialogue. In Busan, RoKorea, check out the 1st KIOST-KMI Special Seminar where regional experts  shared valuable research on blue carbon ecosystems and fisheries management.

Finally, to help democratize access to global climate dialogue, PEMSEA joined global partners in launching the fifth edition of the COP30 Virtual Ocean Pavilion. The platform aims to connect stakeholders and raise visibility on ocean issues ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

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.