GOVPH

 

The 7th IMDC is the largest and longest-running conference series dedicated to the issue of plastic pollution and marine litter.

 

Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Maria Angela A. Ponce served as a main panelist in the opening plenary’s multi-stakeholder panel discussion organized by the 7th IMDC in cooperation with the ROK Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the United Nations Environment Program, and the Korea Oceans and Environment Management Corporation. The multi-stakeholder panel aims to bring together representatives from diverse organizations to discuss their contribution to addressing the issue of plastic pollution, protecting the marine environment and the future role of each actor in this context. During the panel discussion, Assistant Secretary Ponce highlighted the Philippines’ National Plan of Action for the Prevention, Reduction, and Management of Marine Litter (NPOA-ML) and emphasized that capacity-building and financing, empowerment of stakeholders, and complimentary legislative action are needed for its effective implementation. She also expressed the importance of science and evidence-based data and research in combatting the complex and multidimensional problem of marine litter.

 

The Philippine delegation likewise meet several Filipino participants during the conference, including environment advocate and TV personality Antoinette Taus who is also the founder of Communities Organized for Resource Allocation (CORA), a non-profit organization dedicated to creating sustainable programs to help solve global issues including marine debris and climate change. END

Deputy Minister Song conveyed that the Philippines can look forward to the Republic of Korea’s expanded programs on marine debris and marine environment conservation with KOICA, especially on plastic pollution monitoring and management. Deputy Minister Song also looked forward to working with the Philippines under the ambit of international governmental organizations where both the ROK and PH are members, including Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA).

 

As a response, Assistant Secretary Ponce expressed that both the ROK and the Philippines have aligned priorities regarding maritime cooperation, as the Philippines just released the National Plan of Action on Marine Litter in November 2021. She also expressed the importance of capacity-building on fisheries, ocean economy, and new technology in this field. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega reiterated some points from the PH-ROK maritime dialogue including the need for working group level focal points for cooperation work of implementors on the ground, especially for Fisheries Monitoring. At the end of the meeting, both sides agreed to work closely together for the 2nd PH-ROK Joint Fisheries Committee (JFC) Meeting which will be held in January 2023. It is the next important ocean economy engagement with the Republic of Korea, after the 1st PH-ROK Maritime Dialogue.

 

The JFC is a useful forum to discuss very specific technical cooperation projects such as capacity building, especially training courses which are very important in the ocean economy. END

Under the theme, “Challenges and tasks in the international maritime sector in the new normal era”, the Korea Maritime Week 2022 brought together government officials, international experts, and the academe to discuss major issues in the international maritime sector.

 

In her remarks, Ambassador De Vega emphasized how international cooperation on shared priorities such as green shipping, protection of the marine environment through digitalization and de-carbonization, and economic cooperation form part of the comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to address the broad challenges of the maritime sector. She also noted that the impact of marine litter and plastic pollution on water and food supplies, public health, and industries such as fishing, shipping, and tourism is a shared problem that requires shared solutions. The Ambassador also lauded the ROK for taking steps to recognize the value of a green ship and potential strategies to increase energy efficiency and decarbonize global shipping, an area of interest and cooperation for the Philippines.

 

Ambassador De Vega was joined by ROK Vice Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Song Seung Dal, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim, ROK National Assembly Representative Ahn Byung-gil, and the Mayor of Busan Park Heong-joon. END