PEMSEA, Timor-Leste sign Memorandum of Understanding for the Implementation of the the ODA Project on Reducing Marine Plastics in Timor-Leste

_{PEMSEA Executive Director Aimee Gonzales and MALFF Secretary of Fisheries Domingos da C. dos Santos of Timor-Leste sign the Memorandum of Understanding on the Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas Region ODA Project, witnessed by Dr. Won Tae Shin, Hon. Donalyn U. Minimo, and Hon. Yoon Hyunsoo. (PRF)}

 

The PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) and the government of Timor-Leste have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of a six-year Official Development Assistance (ODA) Project entitled Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas Region. The signing took place on 7 November 2024 during the EAS Congress held in Xiamen, China.

 

The MoU was signed by PRF Executive Director Aimee Gonzales and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry (MALFF) Minister Marcos da Cruz represented by the Secretary of State of Fisheries, Hon. Domingos da C. Dos Santos, marking a significant milestone for the ODA Project in their shared commitment to reduce marine plastics and sustainable coastal and marine management.

 

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Hon. Yoon Hyunsoo, the Deputy Minister and Commissioner of the Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Republic of Korea and Hon. Donalyn U. Minimo, Assistant Secretary of the International Finance Group of the Department of Finance, Philippines.

 

“The ODA Project on Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asians Seas Region is timely and supports a crucial step in mitigating the impacts of marine plastic pollution by promoting sustainable waste management practices, enhancing public awareness, and fostering international cooperation in combating this global problem,” said the Secretary of State of Fisheries Hon. Mr. Domingos da C. dos Santos in his congratulatory remarks. 

 

Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas Region ODA Project

The six-year project runs from 2023 to 2028 across four project sites in Timor-Leste, namely the municipalities of Dili, Liquica, Manatuto and Atauro.

 

The ODA Project aims to improve local governance on marine plastics management, demonstrate best practices and innovative solutions for reducing marine plastics and marine plastic management, conduct beach monitoring on marine plastics and litter, raise awareness and build capacity of stakeholders and the general public on the impact of marine plastics on the environment, human health and economy. 
 

Innovative Solutions and Good Practices at the Local Level

Following the signing ceremony, the session on Reducing Marine Plastics in the East Asian Seas Region commenced, focusing on local experiences, lessons learned and strategies for advancing the ODA project implementation.

 

Dr. Maria Antonia Tanchuling, Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of the Philippines, presented findings from the study on plastics pollution in the East Asian Seas Region. From the study of plastics baseline assessment, Dr. Tanchuling demonstrated that diapers and hygiene products as well as single use plastics are dominant types of plastics covering around 30% of total wastes by weight across the six sites of the Philippines.

 

Mamerto Rodrigo, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer of Daanbantayan Municipality, shared insights on the role of NGOs in marine plastics management, with a focus on initiatives in the municipality of Daanbantayan, Cebu in the Philippines. He stressed that the awareness building activities of NGOs, under the Marine Environment Protector (MEP) Program, at the project sites have created significant impact on raising awareness and leading behavioral changes on marine plastics.

 

Mr. Walter Soares from the National University of Timor-Leste in Dili shared the results of beach monitoring activities in Dili and Liquica of Timor-Leste. The quarterly beach monitoring activity showed some valuable insights on the importance of scientific monitoring of the stranding marine plastics at coastal areas.

 

Mr. Soares showed the declining trend of marine plastics at two sites in Timor-Leste and suggested that further research should be done to assess the cause of decreasing plastics is due to seasonal effect or natural reduction. Currently, beach monitoring of marine plastics is being conducted at the ten sites of the project in the Philippines and Timor-Leste.

 

Mr. Paolo Rosil of Bulan Municipality, Philippines, presented local initiatives relating to marine plastics and solid waste management programs in support of the ODA Project. He showed that the ODA Project brought many innovative concepts to their municipalities such as beach monitoring, good practices and plastics management, baseline assessment, among others. He mentioned that the capacity building program of the ODA project is particularly helpful and successful in bringing changes to their municipality.

 

Ms. Haidee Piniero presented concepts of pilot project proposals on innovative solutions and good practices of the Philippines sites, to be implemented starting 2025. The proposals, encompassing ideas from the entire life cycle approach to plastics management, were developed based on the requests and surveys of the local governments and refined to make them implementable.

 

The full proceedings of the workshop will be shared as part of the EAS Congress 2024 report which will be made available soon.