eBulletin - Oct 2025
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PEMSEA eBulletin - October 2025

PUBLICATION DATE:

Friday, October 31, 2025

PUBLICATION TYPE:

Magazines and Newsletters

STATUS:

Only Available Online

DESCRIPTION:

Dear PEMSEA community,

Navigate through inspiring stories of renewed commitments, strengthened partnerships, and collective action this October!

Read about how Philippine mayors and local leaders from five coastal cities and municipalities pledged to strengthen local actions and solutions to reduce marine plastic pollution. The Mayors’ Conference on Reducing Marine Plastics in Manila brought together key decision-makers to sign the Mayors’ Compact and project agreements under the MOF/PEMSEA ODA Project, marking milestones toward cleaner and more sustainable coasts.

Know more about how PEMSEA reaffirmed its commitment to regional cooperation on sustainable ocean governance through the 34th Expanded Executive Committee (EC) Meeting led by Partnership Council Chair Atty. Jonas Leones, setting a clear implementation pathway toward achieving 2030 global targets.

On the ground, see how empowered communities under the Marine Plastics ODA Project are leading awareness and behavior change efforts across local sites—proving that real progress begins with collective local action.

Learn about the renewed partnership between the Government of Timor-Leste and the PEMSEA Resource Facility through the signing of a revised Memorandum of Understanding in Manila, ensuring continued collaboration for reducing marine plastics in the East Asian Seas region.

Explore the growing impact of the GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project across Southeast Asia in their latest newsletter, from river basin consultations in the Philippines to the upcoming project rollout in Malaysia, and multistakeholder workshops advancing the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus approach.

This month, we also congratulate Mr. Yinfeng Guo for his election as IUCN Regional Councillor for South and East Asia, recognizing his long-standing leadership and contributions to regional ocean and coastal governance!

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.