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The Philippines Announces the Hosting of the East Asian Seas Congress 2009

The Government of the Philippines through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced today, 5 June 2008, its hosting of the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2009, to be held in Manila on 23-27 November 2009 at the Philippine International Convention Center. Through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between DENR and the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), the Philippines formalized its commitment to host the international event and provide the necessary in-country support and preparations. The MOA was signed between DENR Secretary Jose L. Atienza, Jr. and PEMSEA Executive Director Raphael P. M. Lotilla.

To ensure the successful organization and conduct of the EAS Congress 2009, a National Organizing Committee (NOC) led by the DENRhas been organized with support from key government agencies including, Foreign Affairs, Tourism, Budget and Management, Interior and Local Government, Office of the President, Customs, Metro Manila Development Authority, Manila International Airport and the Philippine Information Agency.

In line with the EAS Congress theme, “Partnerships at Work: Local Implementation and Good Practices,” Mr. Lotilla emphasized the importance of the Congress as it will highlight initiatives at the local level, as well as review progress of the East Asian region with respect to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA), the regional blueprint adopted by the countries of East Asia to ensure the sustainability of the East Asian Seas.  Secretary Atienza reinforced the department’s commitment to the environment by balancing out the energy used, travels made and waste produced by the conference through offsetting activities such as tree-planting.  

Also in attendance to witness the signing ceremony are DENR regional directors, bureau and service directors, and PEMSEA officers and staff. 

The East Asian Seas Congress 2009 is supported by the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Development Programme, and the United Nations Office for Project Services and the Coastal Management Center. 

All set for the 2nd East Asian Seas Partnership Council Meeting

The East Asian Seas Partnership Council Meeting will hold its second meeting on 14–17 July 2008 in Tokyo, Japan. The Meeting is being organized by the PEMSEA Resource Facility and is co-organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) with the support of the Ocean Policy Research Foundation (OPRF) of Japan.  

The 2nd EAS Partnership Council Meeting will discuss important matters pertaining to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA). In particular, the Meeting will delve into a number of key issues, including the establishment of a long-term, sustainable regional mechanism for SDS-SEA implementation, the start-up of the GEF/UNDP/UNOPS/PEMSEA project on the Implementation of the SDS-SEA as well as other related subregional transboundary initiatives, the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2009 and the Third Ministerial Forum. At this meeting, the new Regional Programme Director/PRF Executive Director Raphael P. M. Lotilla will be formally introduced to the Partners.

The Government of Japan is also organizing a Joint Seminar with PEMSEA on “Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) in the Seas of East Asia: Progress and Impacts” on 18 July 2008, with the assistance of the OPRF. The Seminar features some activities/examples of coastal management in Japan and in some PEMSEA ICM sites.

The PRF expects that the Meeting will lay firm foundation for PEMSEA’s future direction and in the preparation of the EAS Congress 2009, which will be held in November 2009 in Manila, Philippines. The PRF also expects that collaboration among PEMSEA Partners, especially with Japan will be further enhanced through the Partnership Council Meeting and the Joint Seminar.

PEMSEA New Executive Director

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the East Asian Seas (EAS) Partnership Council have named Professor Raphael P. M. Lotilla as the new Regional Programme Director of the PEMSEA Regional Programme and the Executive Director of the PEMSEA Resource Facility beginning May 2008.

Prof. Lotilla brings with him 22 years of experience in multidisciplinary, multiagency, and multistakeholder partnerships in a national and regional context. He served in the Philippine government as the Secretary of Energy from 2005 to 2007, where he steered the government's energy independence and power sector reform agenda.

As Undersecretary for the National Economic Development Authority of the Philippines (1996-2003), he served as Coordinator of the Philippine Council for Sustainable Development and led a multistakeholder process in the formulation of Philippine Agenda 21.  

Prof. Lotilla leads PEMSEA towards achieving its priority targets to 2015 which includes strengthening coastal and ocean governance through national policy and program transformation in at least 70 percent of PEMSEA participating countries; and advancing sustainable development of coastal lands and waters in at least 20 percent of the region’s coastline though integrated coastal management (ICM) program implementation.

Prof. Lotilla began his academic career in law at the University of the Philippines (UP) in 1985 and served as Director of the Institute of International Legal Studies of the UP Law Center and Vice-President for Public Affairs. He was appointed Professor of Law in 1995. Prof. Lotilla earned his undergraduate degrees in Psychology and History, a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines, and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Michigan Law School. As law professor, he taught courses including Constitutional Law, International Law, International Economic Law, the Law of the Sea and Citizenship. He also taught Treaties and Other International Agreements at the Ateneo de Manila University Law School shortly after he resigned from the Cabinet.  Prof. Lotilla has participated in regional initiatives on ocean policy and regional cooperation.

For more information, contact: Anna Rita Cano arcano@pemsea.org
or Magnolia Uy mmuy@pemsea.org (Tel: 929-2992)