RP Hosts East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2009

The Philippines will host this year’s East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress, slated on November 23-27, 2009 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila.

With the theme, “Partnerships at Work: Local Implementation and Good Practices,” the EAS Congress 2009 focuses on real actions and initiatives from the local level that contribute to the achievement of international and regional environmental targets and objectives, as well as the issues that confront local governments, communities and other stakeholders. The 2009 Congress, organized by Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), will also serve as the venue to review and identify future actions pertaining to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA).

EAS Congress 2009 aims to highlight the initiatives and good practices at the local level covering wide area or issues on coastal and ocean management. This Congress emphasizes on-the-ground actions and innovations that contribute significantly in the achievement and meeting of regional and global environmental targets and commitments.

This year’s Congress will feature the Third Ministerial Forum, the International Conference on Sustainable Coastal and Ocean Development, the Third EAS Partnership Council Meeting, the Second EAS Youth Forum, an Environmental Exhibition on Good Practices and Innovative Technologies, Field Visits, and other side events.

The EAS Congress began in 2003 and has been held every three years to serve as a marketplace for knowledge and venue for partnership building contributing towards the vision of attaining the sustainable development of the East Asian Seas region.

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

For more information on the EAS Congress, contact the EAS Congress Secretariat at (632) 929-2992, email congress@pemsea.org or visit the EAS Congress website at www.pemsea.org/eascongress