ILOILO CITY — The signing of the “Iloilo Ministerial Declaration on East Asian Region Moving as One to Secure Healthy Oceans, People and Economies” will be one of the highlights in the 6th East Asian Sea (EAS) Congress that will be held at the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) here this November 27-30.
The Philippines, through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), organized the triennial conference, which for this year coincides with the 25th year since the latter was founded.
“That particular declaration covers commitment by the countries to continuously align strategies with the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (Goal no. 14-Life Below Water),” PEMSEA coordinator Katherine Rose Gallardo-Aguiling explained during Monday’s press conference here.
The declaration will commit to pursuing the target of achieving 25-percent coverage of the regions coastline under the integrated coastal management (ICM).
“We are currently covering almost 18 percent of the entire region’s coastlines, so all the countries are working together to ensure that they will achieve the 25 percent by 2021,” she added.
The members of the PEMSEA will also commit to adopt and implement ICM national laws and policies; regularly update their state of the coasts report for monitoring of the development of their country’s initiatives and develop blue economy investments; reduce or prevent marine pollution; and implement policies and programs related to sustainable coastal management.
Apart from the declaration, another key output is the launching of the first national and regional state of the ocean and coasts (SOCs) report focusing on the blue economy, including that of the Philippines.
“Each of the countries will be launching their SOC reports highlighting the value, the data that we have gathered on the different industries that providing contribution to the economic development of each of the countries. It will serve as a baseline on what are the key industries and inputs of those industries relying heavily on coastal and marine area as to the economic development of the countries,” she revealed.
Aguiling said the international conference will combine sessions and discussions with an exhibit culminating with a ministerial forum.
The Sixth Ministerial Forum has confirmations from two ministers, seven vice-ministers, two director- generals, and senior government officials from 11 countries.
The Philippines will be hosting two major sessions, namely Regional Blue Economy Forum and the Role of Cities in Advancing Blue Carbon Solutions.
The congress seeks to further strengthen the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA); help track blue economy development across the region; and help promote new initiatives, investments and partnerships to accelerate achievement of local, regional targets of oceans.
“East Asia plays a crucial role in meeting that global ocean agenda given that the countries in East Asia rely heavily on the economic opportunities being provided by our coastal and marine ecosystem,” she underscored.
As of last week, it has 900 confirmed delegates, 37 percent of which are local participants and 63 foreign delegates.
PEMSEA has 11 country partners and 22 non-country members within and outside the East Asian regions.
It serves as a mechanism to help the countries of the region monitor the progress that has been made, as well as to map future actions for the implementation of regional plan of action.
