All set for East Asian Seas Congress 2018 – DENR

November 25, 2018

The Philippines is set to host this week an international conference about the seas and oceans where over 900 environment ministers, marine experts, ocean advocates, regional partners and other stakeholders are expected to participate.

The participants from across Asia, Europe, North America and Australia will attend the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2018 from November 27 to 30 at the Iloilo International Convention Center in Iloilo City.

DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu is expected to open the congress on Tuesday (Nov. 27) with a welcome remarks.

The EAS Congress aims to build on the commitments under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals where East Asian countries play a crucial role in meeting the global ocean agenda: Goal No. 14 or Life Below Water, which targets the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, seas and oceans.

Organizers of the event—the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Partnerships in Environmental Management for Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA)—said delegates from government agencies, civil society, academe, business, NGOs, international agencies, funding institutions and media have confirmed their attendance to the conference.

They said that around 63% or majority of the participants are foreign delegates from PEMSEA partner countries Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Laos, South Korea, Singapore, Timor Leste and Vietnam; and non-member countries Malaysia, Thailand, United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, France and Australia. The rest of the participants or around 37% are local delegates, they added.

Ministers, vice ministers, director generals and other senior government officials from the 11 PEMSEA partner nations are attending the EAS Congress in full force.

The highlight of the conference is the 6th Ministerial Forum where PEMSEA member countries are expected to come up with the “Iloilo Ministerial Declaration on East Asian Region, Moving as One to Secure Healthy Oceans, People and Economies.”

PEMSEA, whose headquarters is located within the DENR central office in Quezon City, is an intergovernmental organization operating in East Asia to foster and sustain healthy and resilient oceans, coasts, communities and economies across the region.

This year’s EAS Congress is also a celebration of 25 years of partnerships for healthy oceans, people and economies. DMS