PEMSEA eBulletin - October 2025

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!

The GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project continued to gain progress in the third quarter of 2025 with strengthened partnerships, wider knowledge sharing, and more active participation in amplifying best practices and local stories across the ASEAN region.

In the Philippines, national implementation advanced with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and PEMSEA Resource Facility sustaining collaboration for project implementation in the Pasac–Guagua Watershed and Imus–Ylang Ylang–Rio Grande Rivers. Additionally, consultations in these two river basins helped identify priority issues for pilot project development and implementation, focusing on addressing water scarcity, improving wastewater management, and promoting nature-based solutions.

In Malaysia, coordination with government counterparts was carried out in preparation for the official launch and full-scale implementation of the Project along the Kedah River Basin. For each participating ASEAN Member State, multistakeholder workshops on Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus were held to gather local perspectives and anecdotal information on changes and trends, including gender responsive approaches, relating to water, energy, food, ecosystem, and disaster risk reduction, and potential synergies and trade-offs across these sectors.

At the regional level, the Project expanded its knowledge and capacity building network through initiation of the establishment of IRBM Learning Centers for the Project and linked to the PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLC). The Project also participated in key international and regional platforms—from Korea’s 20th anniversary celebration of Total Pollutant Loading Management to the GEF Project Oversight Training in the East Asian Seas Region held in the Philippines —sharing lessons learned and best practices on project oversight and implementation.

The Project also highlighted the importance of visual storytelling through local narratives that can drive understanding and action during the GEF IW:LEARN webinar. The Project was also able to profile the Imus-Ylang Ylang-Rio Grande Rivers in the Philippines highlighting community realities and the steps the government has initiated in conserving this river basin.

These collective efforts reflect a shared commitment to integrated and inclusive river basin management - one that bridges science, governance, and community voices to build a more resilient and sustainable future for ASEAN’s river basins and watersheds and associated coastal and marine areas.
 

The 2025 PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) Forum, with the theme, “Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Blue Economy: Linking Climate, Nature and Energy,” was organized by PEMSEA Network of Local Governments, in collaboration with PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers, the Ministry of Environment (MoE) of Indonesia, PEMSEA Resource Facility, and hosted by Jakarta Province, Indonesia. The forum was held on September 16-18, 2025, at the Kempinski Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Dear PEMSEA community,

Sail through fresh news and stories this September!

In Jakarta, check out the PNLG Forum 2025, where more than 200 participants from nine countries gathered to showcase innovation and collaboration for coastal action, and read about Guimaras Governor Ma. Lucille Ledesma-Nava taking her oath as PNLG President for 2025–2028.

In Manila, know more about the GEF Regional Project Oversight Training which convened Operational Focal Points from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam, in collaboration with PEMSEA and the Philippines’ DENR.

In Busan, look back at the 20th anniversary of the Total Pollutant Loading Management System (TPLMS), joined by representatives from MOF, KMI, academic institutions, civil society groups, and discussions from Ms. Nancy Bermas, Regional Project Manager, GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project.

In China, read about PEMSEA Resource Facility Executive Director Aimee Gonzales’ presentation on integrated coastal management at the ICM and Maritime Economy Session, and her participation in the 11th Management Committee meeting of the China–PEMSEA Coastal Management Cooperation Center with officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources.

In the Philippines, know more about the MOF/PEMSEA ODA Project on Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas Region Regional Steering Committee’s approval of pilot projects to reduce marine plastics in its six sites, and the 7,000 volunteers mobilized for the International Coastal Cleanup.

Taking the global stage, learn how Orange Omengan, Communications and Knowledge Management Specialist of the IRBM Project, connects science with community realities through compelling visual storytelling with the IRBM Project at the GEF IW:LEARN webinar.

To wrap up the month, explore opportunities to join PEMSEA by visiting the careers section.

Dear PEMSEA community,

Catch the wave of news and stories this August!

Explore how PEMSEA is working with LGUS and local stakeholders across the region to advance sustainable coastal and ocean governance. Read about the recent visit to Dipolog City, where PEMSEA Executive Director Aimee Gonzales and Communications Officer Klyra Orbien met with local officials to review progress and discuss the next steps under the MOF/PEMSEA ODA Project on Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas.

Learn about how cities are implementing nature-based solutions through the Southeast Asia Conference on Nature-based Solutions in Singapore, where Ms. Gonzales introduced the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) as a vital platform for building resilience in coastal cities.

Discover insights from PEMSEA’s presentation at the FASPS D.R.I.P. Series: Discussions on Results and Innovations of Projects brown bag session, where the team introduced PEMSEA and shared project progress, initiatives, and latest updates.

From Malaysia, see how the Regional Project Management Unit of the Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project advanced work in the Kedah River Basin through high-level discussions, a Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus workshop, and a field visit.

Finally, check out PEMSEA’s latest consultancy opportunity on Business Development and Resource Mobilization!