Integrated River Basin Management Project Newsletter - Edition 9
PUBLICATION DATE:
Friday, January 23, 2026
PUBLICATION TYPE:
Magazines and Newsletters
STATUS:
Only Available Online
DESCRIPTION:
The final quarter of 2025 marked a period of steady progress for the GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project, as participating countries continued moving from planning toward implementation. Across the region, this transition was shaped by strengthened governance arrangements, deeper stakeholder engagement, and sustained awareness-raising efforts that anchored the Project more firmly at national and local levels.
A key milestone in November was the official launch of the IRBM Project in Indonesia, alongside the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the PEMSEA Resource Facility and the Ministry of Environment. This agreement formalized the implementing arrangements and collaboration for project implementation in the Ciliwung River Basin in Indonesia.
Earlier in October, a series of consultations in Indonesia, Viet Nam, and Malaysia brought together representatives from national, state-level, and local government agencies to identify and confirm priority issues and pilot solutions for the Ciliwung, Vu Gia–Thu Bon, and Kedah river basins. While each basin reflected its own social and ecological context, the discussions revealed shared challenges—wastewater and solid waste management, flooding, sedimentation, competing water uses, and saltwater intrusion. These common concerns underscored the growing urgency of integrated governance and management approaches in the face of accelerating development and climate pressures.
In December, the Project extended its outreach in the Philippines through participation in the Cavite Coastal Summit and the Cavite Sustainable Development Strategy Workshop. These events provided opportunities to raise awareness on Integrated River Basin Management, share updates on Project implementation in Cavite Province, and introduce the Source-to-Sea approach to local government officials, academe, and stakeholders engaged in environmental planning and management.
During the same month, the Project also convened an online inception meeting to initiate the development of the IRBM Training Manual and Training-of-Trainers (ToT) Program. Representatives from the six participating ASEAN Member States discussed the approach, methodology, and timeline for developing the training manual and ToT program, which will incorporate global practices while being grounded in regional and local contexts and practical application.
Taken together, the activities of the past quarter reflect a year of converging efforts and collective momentum. This journey is captured in the 2025 photo gallery featured in this edition, offering a visual walkthrough of the engagements, partnerships, and milestones that have marked the Project’s steady progression throughout the year.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.