Marine Environmental Protection Command

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 (𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗦) 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝗟𝗗𝗙𝗚 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗡

The Philippine Coast Guard, through the 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 (MEPCOM), together with representatives from the 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 (𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗦), successfully conducted a coordination meeting focused on strengthening regional cooperation and advancing sustainable solutions to address 𝗔𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗱, 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁, 𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗲𝗮𝗿 (𝗔𝗟𝗗𝗙𝗚) across ASEAN member countries.

The meeting was presided over by 𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗠 𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗟 𝗔 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗡 𝗣𝗖𝗚 Commander, MEPCOM, in coordination with 𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗦, on 19 May 2026, aboard Mary Bachrach Building 1, 24th Street, Port Area, Manila.

The meeting served as a platform for the exchange of information, insights, and experiences concerning the growing environmental challenges posed by ALDFG, which continue to threaten marine biodiversity, coastal ecosystems, fisheries resources, and maritime safety within the region. Participants discussed prevailing issues encountered by ASEAN countries and highlighted best practices and successful initiatives currently being implemented to mitigate marine debris and ghost fishing impacts.

Present during the engagement were 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗬 𝗕 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗙𝗜𝗟 𝗣𝗖𝗚, Director of the Marine Environmental Protection Regulatory Compliance and Governance Service (MEPRCGS), and 𝗖𝗔𝗣𝗧 𝗗𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗕 𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗖𝗚, Commander of the Marine Science Forensics Investigation Service (MSFIS). Their presence further reinforced the discussions and underscored the parties’ shared endeavors toward strengthening future collaboration.

During the discussions, both parties emphasized the importance of enhancing regional collaboration through knowledge-sharing, policy development, and coordinated environmental protection efforts. The meeting also explored potential areas of cooperation among ASEAN nations, particularly in strengthening monitoring mechanisms, improving waste management systems, and encouraging stakeholder participation from government agencies, local communities, and the private sector.

Moreover, the meeting identified actionable steps to address ALDFG, including the formulation of policy recommendations, capacity-building activities, public awareness campaigns, and the implementation of on-ground interventions aimed at preventing and reducing marine litter caused by fishing gear and other pollutants. These initiatives are expected to support broader marine environmental protection efforts and contribute to the promotion of a sustainable Blue Economy within the region.

As part of the MEPCOM AHEAD initiative under the pillar of 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀, MEPCOM advances its efforts in protecting the country’s marine environment through continued collaboration with international organizations and regional stakeholders. MEPCOM also recognized the role of IGES in promoting environmental sustainability and strengthening regional cooperation toward cleaner, safer, and more resilient seas across the ASEAN region.





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