Iloilo City hosts Marine Protected Area congress
Iloilo City will host the National Congress on Sustainable Financing and Marine Protected Area (MPA) through the Coastal Zone Philippines 2 Summit (CZPhil2) on October 27-28, 2007 at Punta Villa, Iloilo City.
Organized by the Marine Protected Area Support Network (MNS) and the CZPhil Organizing Committee, led by Dr. Perry Alino, professor from University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute and senior member of the USAID Philippine Environmental Governance 2 (EcoGov2) Project. He will be joined by Cesario Pagdilao, Project and Deputy Director of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development.
The MPA Congress is a timely event which aims to assess and evaluate the various Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) projects being undertaken in the Philippines. There are many areas in the country that have initiated ICM projects to address the complexity of issues and problems affecting the coastal and marine resources. However, the application of ICM strategies in different areas are not well documented and many are facing stiff challenges particularly in sustainable financing mechanisms. Because of this, the local government units seek support to enhance their ICM projects in areas of capability building, establishing partnerships and addressing complex technical and management problems.
The main focus of the Congress is the identification of useful financing mechanisms to support ICM strategies while recognizing and promoting its best practices. There will be plenary presentations complemented by workshop sessions to discuss in detail the issues and problems on ICM. It also hopes to list best practices on sustainable financing schemes adoptable to different local settings and likewise come up with an effective action plan to mitigate marine pollution.
Regional Executive Director Lormelyn E. Claudio is hopeful that this activity will strengthen and enhance ICM projects and gain renewed commitment to promote an effective and sustainable coastal management. (RPAO/ehb)