ASEAN Working Group on Coastal and Marine Environment (AWGCME)

The Philippines through the BMB chaired the Working Group from 2014 to 2016 but extended until the 20th meeting on 28-30 January 2019. The working group initially focused on pollution, but the Philippines added the aspects of biodiversity and ecosystems connectivity from ridge to reef during the 2017 AWGCME meeting in Manila. Thailand is offered to chair the working group in the NEXT three-year term to sustain its momentum on marine debris and consonant to the agenda of the current ASOEN Chair (Thailand) on combating impacts of marine debris.
The Bangkok Declaration on Combatting Marine Debris in ASEAN Region was drafted on 5 March 2019 during the Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Marine Debris for approval in the 34th ASEAN Summit to be held in June. The declaration commits the AMS to take concrete action in combating marine plastic debris; strengthen regional and international cooperation by exploring the possible development; promote efforts to develop a national action plan to prevent, reduce and manage plastic debris; and extend full support to advance partnership sustainability in all dimensions. The AWGCME is tasked by the ASOEN to lead in coordinating activities and projects with partners, with support from relevant working groups.
The Philippines will assist Vietnam as the lead country in Programme 7 on "Integrated Coastal Management and Marine Spatial Planning" of the AWGCME Action Plan.
The Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP) which started in 2017 and will end in 2028 is a 12-year national program that aims to manage, address and effectively reduce the drivers and threats of degradation of the coastal and marine ecosystems to achieve and promote sustainability of ecosystem services, food security and climate change resiliency. It employs a ridge-to-reef management approach.