Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines - East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA)

The BIMP-EAGA Implementation Blueprint 2012-2016 has been succeeded by BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025 (BEV 2025), which was adopted at the 12th BIMP-EAGA Summit on 29 April 2017. BEV 2025 focuses on delivering three main outcomes: (i) a competitive and green manufacturing sector; (ii) sustainable, competitive and climate-resilient agro-industry and fisheries and; (iii) BIMP-EAGA as a sustainable, well-developed and connected multi-country tourism destination. These outcomes are to be achieved through the strategic pillars of Connectivity, Food Basket, Tourism, Environment and Socio-cultural and Education. Environmental concerns underlie all of these outcomes.
For the Environment Pillar, the outputs identified are the following:
(i) Sustainable ecotourism in Ecosystems The metrics for this output are the best practices and standards compiled in CY 2018 and disseminated in CY 2019. At least two communities per country are expected to adopt the sustainable ecotourism practices featured in the compilation by year 2020.
(ii) Sustainable and climate-resilient farming and fishing practices The metrics for this output are the best practices and standards compiled in CY 2018 and disseminated in CY 2019. At least one community per country is expected to adopt the sustainable and climate-resilient farming and fishing practices; and
(iii) Clean and green production technology promoted The metrics for this output are (a) at least one city per country will have Green City Action Plan (GCAP) and will implement the same by 2025 and (b) 200 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) adopting clean and green technology also by 2025.
The four strategic priorities with corresponding planned projects and activities under the Environment Cluster are:
(i) Climate change adaptation and mitigation the project or activity for this is an inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions;
(ii) Promotion of clean and green technologies the projects or activities for this are the promotion of renewable energy in convergence with the Power and Energy Infrastructure Cluster and the BIMP-EAGA Green Cities Initiative in convergence with other Clusters;
(iii) Promotion of sustainable environmental management in ecosystems the project is the compilation of Guidelines/Best Practices for Sustainable Eco-tourism, Farming/Agriculture and Fishing Practices; and,
(iv) Promote public awareness and capacity building for relevant stakeholders on environmental sustainability the activity for this is the development of information and education materials.

Proclamation No. 167, s. 2002 Declaring the week of March 24-31, 2002 and every year thereafter as BIMP-EAGA week.

The Philippines has completed the GHG inventory in the DENR offices within P-EAGA regions.
Meanwhile, the Green Cities Initiatives (GCI) was conducted with the Davao City LGU in coordination with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and USAID in April 2018. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has chosen General Santos City as the pilot city for the GCI in the Philippines. In line with this, the P-EAGA Technical Secretariat conducted a GCI Orientation with General Santos LGU, NGOs and other stakeholders. As an offshoot, General Santos City LGU passed a resolution creating their Green City Team.
The P-EAGA was the first to submit its compilation of best practices in July 2018 to the BIMP-EAGA Environment Cluster Secretariat in Malaysia. The submitted best practices form part of the BIMP-EAGA book entitled "Case Studies on Sustainable Ecotourism, Agriculture, and Fisheries in BIMP-EAGA." The book was launched at the BIMP-EAGA Environment Cluster meeting in July 2019. The best practices highlighted in the P-EAGA Regions included in the book are: Sustainable ecotourism practices in Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park in Region 10; Mt. Hamiguitan Range and Wildlife Sanctuary in Region 11; Turtle Islands Heritage and Protected Area in Region 9; Sustainable Farming/Agriculture of KAMASAKA Coffee Plantation, The Fruits of National Greening Program in Region 10 and Sustainable Agriculture in Allah Valley Protected Landscape in Region 12; Sustainable Fisheries --- the Case of Tubbataha Reef Natural Park in Region 4B, and Siargao Islands Protected Landscape and Seascape in Region 13.
Regarding SMEs adopting clean and green production technologies by 2025, a survey was conducted in June 2018 to determine the criteria of clean and green practices of SMEs. The list of SMEs that have adopted clean and green practices in the P-EAGA were submitted in November 2018.
On the other hand, the Electrical and Electronic Waste Study in the P-EAGA Regions was completed by the Philippines in 2016. The said study is also BIMP-EAGA's target.
On 23-25 July 2019, Malaysia turned over chairmanship of the Environment Cluster to the Philippines during the 8th BIMP-EAGA Environment Cluster meeting in Brunei Darussalam.
In terms of promotion of sustainable environmental management in ecosystems, the Philippines and Malaysia signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in March 1996 to establish the Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA) and declare the first transboundary protected area (PA) for marine turtles in the world. The MOA also involves the implementation of a joint management program to ensure the survival of the remaining green and hawksbill turtle populations in the area.
On the Philippine side, the TIHPA area consists of six islands, namely, Taganak, Boaan, Great Bakkungan, Lihiman, Langaan and Baguan Islands. Three are in Malaysia, namely, Selingan, Little Bakkungan and Gulisaan Islands. The management of TIHPA is under DENR Region 9 in close coordination with the Philippines Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (now the Biodiversity Management Bureau), which is also a member of the Joint Management Committee (JMC). The JMC should meet yearly based on alternating hosting arrangements with the Sabah Parks of Malaysia. However, the JMC was not able to meet regularly.
On 10-14 July 2018 the JMC reconvened. The Philippine delegation reported that under Republic Act No. 11038, or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (E-NIPAS) Act of 2018, the Turtle Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Tawi-Tawi is one of the protected areas in the country. Both the Philippines and Malaysia agreed to organize data sharing; strengthen enforcement to address illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and marine turtle trafficking; and explore possible arrangements for sustained cross border exchange. Agreements during the 13th Joint Management Committee meeting in Manila were (i) for DENR Region 9 to head the production of a TIHPA coffee table book, (ii) nominate TIHPA as an ASEAN protected area in the 6th ASEAN Heritage Protected Area (AHP) Conference in 2019, and (iii) share the list of threatened species by both countries for monitoring purposes.
The composition of the Philippine-EAGA Environment Cluster Technical Working Group was reconstituted in March 2017 to include the Chief of the Planning and Management Division in P-EAGA Regions as a focal person.