GUIMARAS – The best practices of the local government unit in this island province in terms of international coastal management (ICM) will be presented in a forum of the 2018 East Asian Seas Congress.
The forum – dubbed as the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia Network of Local Governments (PNLG) Forum – will be held on Nov. 29 at the Andana Resort in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras.
It will gather environmental ministers and chief executives of member-countries to discuss issues and concerns relative to the implementation of the ICM.
The forum will also provide an opportunity to delegates to visit the different eco-tourism sites in Guimaras, particularly its Marine Protected Areas under the ICM Program.
Included in the list of these sites is the Taklong Island National Marine Reserve, which was cited as the most outstanding National Integrated Protected Area System Marine Protected Area in the country.
The PNLG has 45 regular members from nine countries in the East Asian region and two associate members.
Guimaras became a parallel site for the ICM implementation in 2008, making the province one of the youngest members of the PNLG.
The ICM program ensures the protection of the province’s ecosystem while accelerating its socioeconomic development.
Guimaras Public Information Office reported that with the successful implementation of ICM as a key developmental strategy, the province won in the Excellence in Local Governance Awards for the Environmental Governance category in 2017.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government gives this award to recognize the local government unit’s best practices, achievements and innovations in areas of governance, administration, social services, economic development, environmental management, and local legislation. (With a report from PIA/PN)
