Integrating climate change and disaster risk scenarios into coastal land and sea use planning in Manila Bay
PUBLICATION DATE:
Friday, June 01, 2012
PUBLICATION TYPE:
Reports
STATUS:
Out of Print
DESCRIPTION:
One of the key issues facing governments throughout the East Asian Seas (EAS) region is the impact of climate change, variability and extremes, particularly in coastal areas. Manila Bay is no exception, with incidents of flooding, storm surges, saltwater intrusion and erosion occurring with increasing frequency or heightened intensity. Of special concern is the threat of sea level rise in the Bay area and its effects on infrastructure as well as social and economic development in the area. The Manila Declaration, which was signed by the Ministers and Senior Government Officials from the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) Partner Countries in December 2009, called for countries of the region to strengthen and accelerate the implementation of integrated coastal management (ICM) for sustainable development and climate change adaptation in coastal areas of the region. In Manila Bay, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – River Basin Coordinating Office (RBCO), Coastal and Marine Management Office (CMMO) and Manila Bay Coordinating Office (MBCO), and PEMSEA have been working with local government units (LGUs) to scale up the implementation of ICM around the Bay’s coastline, building on the experience of ICM programs in the Provinces of Bataan and Cavite. One of the major thrusts of ICM development and implementation is the preparation of an integrated land and sea use plan. This calls for the conduct of coastal use zoning, which will serve as a guide in the preparation of a plan and regulatory system to allocate the appropriate zones and corresponding uses of the coastal and marine area. Coastal use zoning is based on the functional capability and suitability of coastal waters and land as to the desired uses, the development envisioned by the stakeholders, existing policies and ecological, cultural and traditional considerations. The zoning process is a socio-political matter requiring scientific and technical inputs, involving multi-sector participation and extensive consultation with concerned stakeholders in order to reach consensus on the various zones and their corresponding uses. A major gap in previous meetings and consultations concerning the sustainable development of Manila Bay is the lack of existing and projected impacts of climate change, variability and extremes on the area. Similarly, inputs to the development of integrated land and sea use plans by the local governments in Bataan and Cavite have been lacking guidance and information on changes that are expected to occur because of sea level rise, as well as other potential impacts of climate change (e.g., more intense rainfall or more intense storms). To address this gap, “macro-scale” land and sea use zones for Manila Bay will be prepared with a specific focus on the different scenarios for sea level rise, flooding and storm surges as a consequence of climate change, variability and extremes in the coastal areas over the next 50 years. This document will provide information on climate change, variability and extremes and sea level rise, as inputs to the coastal land and sea use planning and zoning along the Manila Bay area. The physical boundaries of the coastal area to which the Coastal Land and Water Use Plan applies is governed by the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 (Republic Act 8550).
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
-
Area-based marine ecosystem management to cope with Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
The session "Area-based Marine Ecosystem Management for the implementation of Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework", held on November 7, 2024, in Xiamen, China, highlighted innovative strategies to advance marine biodiversity conservation across the East Asian Seas. By addressing the Kunming-Montreal targets, including the ambitious 30x30 objective, the session aligned seamlessly with the EAS Congress theme, "Connecting People and Ocean for Resilient and Sustainable Seas."
The event brought together policymakers, researchers, and key stakeholders to foster collaboration, exchange expertise, and explore actionable pathways toward resilient and thriving marine ecosystems. With its focus on regional implementation linked to global biodiversity and ocean sustainability goals, the session contributed meaningfully to SDG 14, reaffirming a shared commitment to safeguarding marine resources for future generations.
-
Marine Spatial Planning Utilizing a Big Data-driven Policy Simulator
The Marine Spatial Planning Utilizing a Big Data-driven Policy Simulator session addresses the increasing conflicts and overlaps in marine spatial utilization due to intensified activities. It aims to promote integrated marine space management that ensures sustainable and eco-friendly development. Experts from Korea, Japan, China, and Indonesia will share their knowledge on marine spatial management and discuss strategies for international cooperation. The session focuses on leveraging digital twin technology to simulate policy effects, contributing to the development of intelligent marine spatial policy tools for predicting activities and diagnosing policy impacts across the Asian region.
-
Engaging Stakeholders in River Basin Planning and Risk Management
The Regional Workshop served as a collaborative platform for engaging key stakeholders in advancing Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) strategies across six ASEAN countries namely, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam. This workshop facilitated in-depth discussions on stakeholder dynamics, concerns, and engagement strategies tailored to the unique contexts of each country and their respective river basins. Key objectives included enhancing stakeholder participation in IRBM, and
identifying actionable strategies to improve stakeholder engagement in water resource management. -
State of River Basin Reporting: Establishing the Baseline and Mechanism to Track Progress in the Source to Sea Continuum
The conduct of baseline assessment of the Source-to-Sea (S2S) management continuum with a targeted outcome of improving understanding of governance, socioeconomic, ecological conditions, gaps and needs of priority river basins/sub-basins and associated
coastal areas through the State of River Basin (SORB) reporting system is one of the major outcomes of the implementation of the GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Project on Reducing Pollution and Preserving Environmental Flows in the East Asian Seas through the Implementation of Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) in the ASEAN Countries. The SORB reporting system aims to:a) Establish baseline conditions in a river basin/associated coastal area prior to the startup of the IRBM program, including changes that are climate related;
b) Assess progress, achievements and shortcomings of ongoing IRBM programs by determining changing conditions with respect to governance and social and economic conditions, including gender gaps as well as trends and/or emerging environmental issues; and
c) Develop recommendations for continual improvement of IRBM programs including recommendations on ensuring gender responsiveness and incorporating gender equality, where appropriate for consideration by national and local governments and other relevant stakeholders in each river basin/coastal area.
-
Strategic Collaboration in Tackling the Triple Planetary Crises in the East Asian Seas Region - Climate Change Impacts; Nature and Marine Biodiversity Loss; Marine Pollution
The world faces the Triple Planetary Crises (TPC)—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—which require integrated solutions rather than isolated approaches. Some solutions may conflict with others, while well-designed strategies can address multiple crises simultaneously. Identifying synergies and trade-offs is essential for effective action.
East Asian Seas countries have committed to tackling these challenges through global and regional frameworks, including the SDGs, KM-GBF, UNFCCC, UNEA, and ASEAN initiatives. However, many marine and coastal projects in the region remain fragmented, lacking coordination and missing opportunities for collaboration. Strengthening partnerships can optimize resources, enhance impact, and avoid duplication of efforts.
This session focuses on the efforts of regional marine environmental institutions in promoting coordination and collaboration for the sustainable governance of the East Asian Seas region. The session brought together strategic partners and stakeholders, including PEMSEA, IUCN, IOC-WESTPAC, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, amongst others, to move towards a future where coordination and integration is standard.