The 2018 PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development (PNLG) Forum was held at Andana Resort, Guimaras Province, Philippines on 29 November 2018. The Provincial Government of Guimaras hosted the forum.

The Forum was attended by representatives from PNLG members from Cambodia (Kampot, Kep, Koh Kong, and Preah Sihanouk); Indonesia (Bali, Bontang, Sukabumi and Tangerang); Malaysia (Northern Selangor, Port Klang, and Sepang); PR China (Fangchenggang, Jinjiang, Pingtan, Sanya and Xiamen); Philippines (Bataan, Batangas, Cavite, and Guimaras); RO Korea (Ansan, Shihwa and Changwon); Thailand (Chonburi); Timor-Leste (Dili, Liquiçá, and Manatuto); and Vietnam (Danang and Quang Nam).

Representatives from various local governments and institutions participated as observers, including Lao PDR (Champasak, Saravanne and Sekong); Philippines (Oriental Mindoro and Romblon); and Thailand (Trat, Chanthaburi and Rayong).

The Sixth Ministerial Forum was held at Courtyard by Marriott, Iloilo City, Philippines on 29 November 2018. Carrying the theme, “25 Years of Partnerships for Healthy Oceans, People and Economies: Moving as One with the Global Ocean Agenda”, the Sixth Ministerial Forum was hosted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines. Present in the forum were 11 Ministers and heads of delegations from the East Asian Countries, and about 50 observers from among the PEMSEA Non-Country Partners, together with members of PEMSEA’s East Asian Seas Partnership Council Executive Committee, representatives from PEMSEA’s sponsoring agencies, the GEF and UNDP, and some PEMSEA collaborators.

The highlights of the Sixth Ministerial Forum, included:
The presentation of the key results of the Regional and National State of Oceans and Coasts (SOC) reports on Blue Economy;
Delivery of individual country statements highlighting countries’ outlook, plans and initiatives related to the implementation of the SDS-SEA in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals; and
The signing of the Iloilo Ministerial Declaration on East Asian Region Moving as One for Healthy Oceans, People and Economies.
The Regional and National SOC Reports are key outputs of the PEMSEA member countries that looked into the countries’ ocean economy, ocean industries, valuation of coastal and marine ecosystem services, risks and pressures on oceans in the region, and examples of blue economy initiatives. The reports aim to provide the baseline for future assessments. Initial estimates show that the SOC provides a comprehensive approach to evaluate the contribution of oceans and coasts, impacts of human activity on the ocean, as well as monitor progress towards the SDGs, SDS-SEA, and other international agreements through the blue economy and ocean governance initiatives. Based on the reports, the oceans serve as an important source of income and jobs for countries in the EAS region, with significant share in countries’ GDP. While ocean’s ecosystem services are still not much valued in most countries, available information showed ocean as a natural capital represents 50-55% of ocean economy across the region. It is hoped that the SOC can be utilized as an important tool to advance scientific support, raise public awareness, promote good governance and partnerships for blue economy, and foster the development of synergies among the various sectors and stakeholders.

The Forum culminated with the signing of the Iloilo Ministerial Declaration on East Asian Region Moving as One for Healthy Oceans, People and Economies. The Declaration reaffirmed the countries’ ommitment to the SDS-SEA, and in particular to achieving the remaining targets from the Da Nang Compact, regular updating of SOC reports, reducing or preventing marine pollution of all kinds, promotion of sustainable coastal tourism programs, support development of blue economy investment projects, and support operations of PRF as coordinating mechanism for SDS-SEA implementation through voluntary contributions beyond 2019.

This declaration was written and agreed upon by the delegates of the Fifth EAS Youth Forum, held in Iloilo City, Philippines, from 26-30 November 2018.

It was presented by the PEMSEA Network of Young Leaders (PNYL) Captain John Carl Alonsagay during the closing ceremony of the EAS Congress 2018.

TRANSLATIONS      DOCUMENT TITLE
中文                        2018 东亚青年“海洋与气候可持续行动”宣言
 

Toolkit used by delegates at the Fifth EAS Youth Forum, which took place at the EAS Congress 2018.

The Sixth Senior Government Officials’ Meeting (SGOM) was held at the VIP Room, Iloilo Convention Center, Iloilo City, Philippines on 28 November 2018. Senior Government Officials from 11 PEMSEA Country Partners participated in the meeting, namely: Cambodia, PR China, DPR Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Philippines, RO Korea, Singapore, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam. The PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) served as the Secretariat for the Meeting. The Meeting agreed to adopt the Iloilo Ministerial Declaration as revised by the Meeting, for submission to the Sixth Ministerial Forum for final signature.

Aligning with UN SDGs and the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA), MABIK would like to introduce itself to EAS partners by describing facilities, research projects and outreach programs. Since 2015, MABIK has conducted researches on marine biodiversity including sea turtles, sea snakes, and Sesarmops intermedius. MABIK has run and expanded outreach programs as well as research projects for better ocean literacy. MABIK wishes to meet new partners and to establish effective networks for conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity.

Through the Partnership Hub session, MABIK hopes to initiate collaborative research projects, outreach programs and joint workshops. It would be a good opportunity to establish joint research laboratories in mutual institutions based on collaborative agreement.

EAS Congress 2018 Daily Bulletin for the 29th day of November.

Higher education institutions play a vital role towards the sustainable development of the coasts and seas through its core activities in education, research, governance and external leadership. Building on-the-ground capacity in implementing and scaling up integrated coastal management (ICM) programmes involve training and maintaining a critical mass of ICM leaders and practitioners in the East Asian region who can contribute to effective and efficient implementation of SDG 14 and other related ocean and coastal goals. In line with this, PEMSEA’s capacity development strategies include mobilizing universities and research institutes in increasing technical support available on the ground, providing scientific inputs from experts’ advice in focus issues in various phases of ICM cycle and buildingcapacity and skills to replicate and scale up the ICM practice in the region. This forum provided a platform for university leaders to share, discuss and commit to strengthening collaboration among ICM Learning Centers (ICM LCs) through joint initiatives under the wider umbrella of the PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLC), with an outcome that leads to education, research and outreach through various innovative activities.

It is often said that Southeast Asia has one of the weakest regional mechanism for the protection of the marine environment. One reason cited is the lack of a binding agreement for the protection of the marine environment in the region and the so-called ASEAN way preferred by the littoral States.

This session aimed to investigate and discuss the extent to which regional institutions can and may foster a common understanding of applicable international law and facilitate implementation.