Governor Lucille Nava of Guimaras Takes Oath as PNLG President 2025-2028

PEMSEA Executive Director Aimee Gonzales administers the oath of PNLG President-elect Lucille Nava. Photo courtesy of Jakarta Government

 

Guimaras Governor Ma. Lucille Ledesma-Nava formally took her oath as President of the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) during its General Assembly on 17 September 2025, hosted by the Provincial Government of Jakarta, in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

Governor Nava, who leads the island-province of Guimaras in the Philippines, was chosen to helm the network of local governments, linking 55 members from 10 countries. As PNLG President, she will preside over the General Assembly and Executive Committee, represent the network in regional and international engagements, and serve as its spokesperson on issues concerning sustainable coastal and marine governance.  
 

 

 

In her speech, Governor Nava expressed gratitude and cited the urgency of the work ahead. “This responsibility comes at a crucial time. Climate change, marine pollution, and biodiversity loss are reshaping the lives of our communities. No city or province can act alone to tackle these persistent crises—our strength lies in solidarity and shared leadership,” she said.  
 

She outlined a vision for PNLG focused on scaling up integrated coastal management, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and mobilizing resources for coastal resilience. “My vision is clear: that PNLG becomes a leading network of local governments driving resilient, inclusive, and sustainable coastal development in East Asia,” she declared.  
 

 

Doctor and Public Servant

 

A physician by training, Governor Nava earned her medical degree at Iloilo Doctors’ College of Medicine and pursued specialization in infectious diseases at St. Luke’s Medical Center. She later transitioned into public service as Guimaras’ district representative in the Congress before being elected provincial governor.

 

As legislator, she served as Vice Chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, defending budgets for health agencies and state universities, and authored several landmark laws. Among her notable measures are Republic Act 12225, declaring the Taklong and Tandong Islands a protected natural park, and Republic Act 12069, upgrading Guimaras’ provincial hospital to enhance health care services. She also authored the law on the permanent validity of civil registration documents, easing bureaucratic burdens for Filipinos at home and abroad.

 

A champion of women’s empowerment in Guimaras, she established the Integrated Women’s Alliance of Guimaras, which supports fisherfolk, farmers, and housewives through skills training and livelihood initiatives. Her leadership has earned her recognition from the National Nutrition Council, the Philippine Red Cross, and a Gawad Pilipino Award for Outstanding Congresswoman in 2025.

 

Now at the helm of PNLG, Governor Nava takes on the responsibility of steering PNLG’s collective agenda at a time when coastal communities across the region face unprecedented environmental pressures. “Together, let us build healthy seas, resilient communities, and a future where our people’s welfare remains at the heart of coastal governance,” she said.  
 

 

In 2008, Guimaras province became PNLG’s 24th member following its adoption of  Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) with technical support from PEMSEA. Since then, the province has been recognized as an ICM learning site where best practices in addressing priority issues including fisheries management, marine protected areas, pollution control, disaster risk reduction, and community-based livelihood initiatives have been documented and shared with other local governments across the region.  
 

The province has also successfully mainstreamed ICM into its provincial development planning process, creating an enabling framework that balances environmental conservation with socio-economic growth and developed the province's State of the Coasts’ report.  
 

 

 

The PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development is a regional community of local governments in the East Asian Seas region dedicated to advancing sustainable development through the application of ICM.  
 

PNLG was first established in 2001 as the Regional Network of Local Governments (RNLG) and officially launched in December 2006 in Haikou, China, with the signing of its Charter and Code of Conduct by 18 founding members. It strives to enhance the capacity of local governments to manage coastal and marine resources, link science with policy, enable innovative financing for environmental investments, foster multi-stakeholder accountability, and strengthen governance through interagency and multisectoral coordination.  
 

Headquartered in Xiamen, China, and supported by the Xiamen Municipal Government, the PNLG Secretariat manages capacity-building and knowledge-sharing activities with the help of membership contributions, PEMSEA support, and partnerships with regional and international organizations.  
 

For more information about PNLG, visit this link.