| 10 countries hold forum on coastal management |
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| Written by Ernie Esconde | |
| Tuesday, 24 November 2009 | |
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BALANGA CITY – At least 10 countries in South East Asia held a forum on Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) here on Saturday to achieve sustainable coastal development in the region and lessen the effects of global warming.
Participating countries in the 8th Annual PNLG Forum conducted in Balanga City include Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, People’s Republic of China, RO Korea, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam and the Philippines. PNLG is the acronym for PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development. PEMSEA stands for Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia. The delegates arrived in Bataan on Friday and left on Sunday after a fellowship night. They also visited the bird sanctuary and mangrove area here, the fish sanctuary at Petron Bataan Refinery in Limay town and the Mt. Samat Shrine in Pilar. Pan Shi-Jian, PNLG president and vice-mayor of Xiamen Municipality in China, and Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia, PNLG vice-president, presided over the forum dubbed as “Joining Hands for a Better Coast.” They were elected in 2006 during the East Asian Seas Congress in Hainan Province of China and re-elected for another three years on their second and last term on Saturday. Garcia said that through the cooperation and coordination between the member-countries on ICM, they will come-up with programs that will protect the environment. “Kung ano ang best practices sa isang coastal area ganoon din ang gagawin sa ibang mga coastal areas at sa tulungan ng lahat ng mga kasaping bansa, maiibsan ang epekto ng global warming,” the governor said. The governor and son, Rep. Albert Garcia of Bataan’s Second district, recognized the support of 18 companies “who have made it their business to be part of the province’s sustainable development through the Bataan Coastal Care Foundation.” Thua Thien Hue Province of Vietnam was inducted as new PNLG member. A letter of cooperation between PEMSEA and PNLG for the sustainable development and management of marine and coastal environment of the Seas of East Asia was signed. After the forum, delegates had their right palm and fingers imprinted on a giant fish-shaped figure while street dancers performed. |
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