Released on: October 12, 2008, 5:43 pm

Press Release Author: PEMSEA

Industry:

Press Release Summary: Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East
Asia (PEMSEA) and Xavier University (Xavier) - Ateneo de Cagayan together forged an
agreement that aims to broaden and increase the number of local practitioners of
integrated coastal management (ICM). The partnership establishes Xavier University
as a PEMSEA ICM Learning Center for Mindanao. The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
between PEMSEA and Xavier on capacity building for integrated coastal management was
signed on 29 September by Xavier President Fr. Jose Ramon. T. Villarin, SJ and
PEMSEA Executive Director Atty. Raphael P. M. Lotilla.

Press Release Body: Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East
Asia (PEMSEA) and Xavier University (Xavier) - Ateneo de Cagayan together forged an
agreement that aims to broaden and increase the number of local practitioners of
integrated coastal management (ICM). The partnership establishes Xavier University
as a PEMSEA ICM Learning Center for Mindanao. The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
between PEMSEA and Xavier on capacity building for integrated coastal management was
signed on 29 September by Xavier President Fr. Jose Ramon. T. Villarin, SJ and
PEMSEA Executive Director Atty. Raphael P. M. Lotilla.

PEMSEA is promoting the establishment of ICM learning centers in partnership with
the academe and research institutions in the Philippines and the East Asia region.

Of this partnership between the two organizations, Mr. Adrian Ross, Chief Technical
Officer of PEMSEA, explains that it "... will also be an integral part in
strengthening national programs for scaling up Integrated Coastal Management across
the region, targeting 20% coverage of the region's coastline by 2015."

As part of ICM scaling up in the Philippines, the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) initiated the development of a national ICM program and
recognized the importance of enhancing capacities of local government units and
stakeholders in ICM program development and implementation. The national ICM program
acts as a supporting mechanism for the implementation of Executive Order 533,
adopting ICM as a national strategy for the sustainable development of the
Philippine coastal and marine environment.

"DENR supports this partnership as it brings sustainable development at the
grassroots level - emphasizing the practical rather than the theoretical. And with
Fr. Villarin, a climate change expert, and Atty. Lotilla, an authority of the Law of
the Sea, we have a winning team," declares DENR Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio.

PEMSEA envisions sharing its knowledge products as well as its experience gained
from 14 years of ICM implementation in the region with various Learning Centers to
help strengthen their capacities on the ICM approach and promote the use of local
expertise in ICM capacity-building efforts.

"Today is an afternoon of commitments. PEMSEA, having been hosted by the Philippine
government in the last 14 years, re-commits to DENR's initiatives and commits to
Xavier as its new partner. PEMSEA is looking forward to the establishment of the
network of ICM Learning Centers of which Xavier University is at the forefront,"
says Prof. Lotilla.

Xavier University, through the McKeough Marine Center (MMC), is working on the
formalization of an alliance with various stakeholders to come up with a Bay-wide
ICM Plan in Macajalar Bay; and addressing major environmental concerns in the area
through practical application of scientific studies through community-based
activities such as giant clam re-seeding as part of the bigger ICM program.

"Marine biology is one of the strengths of Xavier and with the dedicated staff of
MMC, this partnership will be built into the (University's) program. Restoration of
the environment can happen if we can find ways to work together," notes Fr.
Villarin.

About Xavier University
Xavier University (Xavier) - Ateneo de Cagayan is a dynamic academic institution
committed to the integral education and formation of the nation's youth being
closely involved with the life and growth, concerns and problems of Cagayan de Oro
City and Northern Mindanao. The McKeough Marine Center (MMC) is the research and
social outreach arm of the University in the field of marine science that is
dedicated to the sustainable development of the coastal and marine environment.

About PEMSEA
Over the past 14 years, more than 2,000 individuals have benefited from ICM training
organized and conducted by the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas
of East Asia (PEMSEA) together with participating governments, donors and academic
institutions. In consideration of the enormous demand that is anticipated by
participating countries in their national ICM scaling up programs, PEMSEA developed
the Learning Center Program to facilitate wider and more efficient transfer of
knowledge and skills on ICM practice, tools and methodologies. The Program includes
the establishment of a network of ICM Learning Centers that will be supported by ICM
Model Courses, Training-of-trainers (TOT) course, specialized training courses and
an internship program. The first run of the ICM Level 1 Model Training Course will
be conducted on 21-29 October 2008 in Manila and Batangas in the Philippines. It
will be a regional trainers' training to be participated in by Xavier University,
ICM practitioners and other collaborating university representatives from Cambodia,
Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

PEMSEA is a regional coordinating mechanism for the implementation of the
Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA). The objective
of the regional programme is to facilitate the implementation of the SDS-SEA through
the mobilization of the necessary partnership arrangements, intellectual capital,
support services and resources. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and
implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), its Country Partners
include: Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Philippines, RO
Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.

Web Site: http://pemsea.org

Contact Details: Partnerships in Enviromental Management for the Seas of East Asia
(PEMSEA)
Magnolia Uy
E-mail: mmuy@pemsea.org
Telephone: +63 (2) 929-2992