Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP)
The Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP) is an intergovernmental geoscience organization strongly oriented towards regional cooperation in its geoscience programmes among the national geoscience organizations or geological surveys of its Member Countries, Cooperating Countries, and Cooperating Organizations. Its mission is to contribute significantly to the economic development and sustainable management of the environment and improvement of the quality of life in its Member Countries by the application of earth science knowledge through four Strategic Goals: (1) Outreach, (2) Cooperation and Partnership, (3) Knowledge Enhancement and (4) Sharing and Data and Information.
The Strategic Goals were identified considering that national geoscience organizations or geological surveys of the CCOP Member Countries play the fundamental role of providing geoscientific information and knowledge that enables their respective governments and communities to make informed decisions about the sustainable development of geo-resources and management of the environment, the safety of critical infrastructures and the resultant well being of all its citizens and residents.
It was formed in 1966 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (UN ECAFE) with four founding member countries, namely, the Republic of the Philippines, Japan, Republic of Korea and the Republic of China. Named "The Committee for Coordination of Joint Prospecting for Mineral Resources in Asian Offshore Areas," its initial aim was to promote and coordinate the planning and implementation of joint prospecting programmes and research in the Asian offshore and geologically related areas of countries who are members of CCOP. Its first meeting was held in Quezon City, Philippines. A Technical Advisory Group (TAG) was soon created composed of a representative from each member country and a Technical Secretariat. UNESCO then assigned a representative to the TAG. Developed countries like the UK, Germany, USA, Japan, and France soon offered assistance to the Committee and sent experts to act as Special Advisers to the TAG. It was in 1968 during the Fourth Session in Japan that CCOP as an acronym for the Committee was first used.
It rapidly grew to a nine-member Committee by 1970 after Thailand, the Republic of Vietnam, Cambodia (Democratic Kampuchea), Malaysia, and Indonesia joined. Papua New Guinea and Singapore joined CCOP by 1981, thus increasing the number of member countries to 11. With the changing needs of the Asian and Pacific Region, CCOP broadened its functions to encompass mineral resources exploration in both offshore and onshore areas, geoscientific aspects of the development of the coastal zones of participating states, and the dissemination of geosciences information helpful for geohazard mitigation and the protection of lives and properties. CCOP currently promotes capacity building, technology transfer, exchange of information and institutional linkages for sustainable resource development, management of geo-information, geo-hazard mitigation and protection of the environment. The broadening of focus also led to the change of the organization's name to its current name as a Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and South East Asia.
CCOP has now grown to 15 member countries with the addition of Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Timor-Leste and Mongolia. Its financial support comes mainly from member country annual cash contributions. It benefits technically and financially from the Cooperating Countries/ Organizations. The cooperating countries are: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States of America. The 15 cooperating organizations are: ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE), International Center for Training and Exchanges in the Geosciences (CIFEG), Circum Pacific Council (CPC), UN-Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), The Geological Surveys of Europe (EGS), Geophysical Exploration Technology (GETECH), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Cooperation (IOMAC), International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Petrad-International Programme for Petroleum Management and Administration, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), The World Bank (WB), and Young Earth Scientists (YES) Network, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).
The role of the Philippines in CCOP is fulfilled principally through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-MGB); the Energy Resources Development Bureau, Department of Energy (DOE); and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Closer coordination and collaboration among the concerned national government geoscience agencies towards addressing government and societal concerns can be better achieved through the revival and strengthening of a Philippine CCOP Steering Committee.
CCOP programs are guided by its 2016-2020 Strategic Plan which is focused on the following:
1. Enhancing coordination of geoscience programs in national geoscientific institutions of CCOP Member Countries
2. Continuing human resource development and institutional capacity building in accordance with national priorities for greater regional self-sufficiency in providing the geoscience inputs to sustainable economic development and sound environmental management
3. Increased sharing of technical information between Member Countries, Cooperating Countries, and Cooperating Organizations to learn from each other's experiences and to identify further opportunities for cooperation in capacity building.
The Strategic Goals were identified considering that national geoscience organizations or geological surveys of the CCOP Member Countries play the fundamental role of providing geoscientific information and knowledge that enables their respective governments and communities to make informed decisions about the sustainable development of geo-resources and management of the environment, the safety of critical infrastructures and the resultant well being of all its citizens and residents.
It was formed in 1966 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (UN ECAFE) with four founding member countries, namely, the Republic of the Philippines, Japan, Republic of Korea and the Republic of China. Named "The Committee for Coordination of Joint Prospecting for Mineral Resources in Asian Offshore Areas," its initial aim was to promote and coordinate the planning and implementation of joint prospecting programmes and research in the Asian offshore and geologically related areas of countries who are members of CCOP. Its first meeting was held in Quezon City, Philippines. A Technical Advisory Group (TAG) was soon created composed of a representative from each member country and a Technical Secretariat. UNESCO then assigned a representative to the TAG. Developed countries like the UK, Germany, USA, Japan, and France soon offered assistance to the Committee and sent experts to act as Special Advisers to the TAG. It was in 1968 during the Fourth Session in Japan that CCOP as an acronym for the Committee was first used.
It rapidly grew to a nine-member Committee by 1970 after Thailand, the Republic of Vietnam, Cambodia (Democratic Kampuchea), Malaysia, and Indonesia joined. Papua New Guinea and Singapore joined CCOP by 1981, thus increasing the number of member countries to 11. With the changing needs of the Asian and Pacific Region, CCOP broadened its functions to encompass mineral resources exploration in both offshore and onshore areas, geoscientific aspects of the development of the coastal zones of participating states, and the dissemination of geosciences information helpful for geohazard mitigation and the protection of lives and properties. CCOP currently promotes capacity building, technology transfer, exchange of information and institutional linkages for sustainable resource development, management of geo-information, geo-hazard mitigation and protection of the environment. The broadening of focus also led to the change of the organization's name to its current name as a Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and South East Asia.
CCOP has now grown to 15 member countries with the addition of Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Timor-Leste and Mongolia. Its financial support comes mainly from member country annual cash contributions. It benefits technically and financially from the Cooperating Countries/ Organizations. The cooperating countries are: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States of America. The 15 cooperating organizations are: ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE), International Center for Training and Exchanges in the Geosciences (CIFEG), Circum Pacific Council (CPC), UN-Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), The Geological Surveys of Europe (EGS), Geophysical Exploration Technology (GETECH), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Cooperation (IOMAC), International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Petrad-International Programme for Petroleum Management and Administration, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), The World Bank (WB), and Young Earth Scientists (YES) Network, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).
The role of the Philippines in CCOP is fulfilled principally through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-MGB); the Energy Resources Development Bureau, Department of Energy (DOE); and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Closer coordination and collaboration among the concerned national government geoscience agencies towards addressing government and societal concerns can be better achieved through the revival and strengthening of a Philippine CCOP Steering Committee.
CCOP programs are guided by its 2016-2020 Strategic Plan which is focused on the following:
1. Enhancing coordination of geoscience programs in national geoscientific institutions of CCOP Member Countries
2. Continuing human resource development and institutional capacity building in accordance with national priorities for greater regional self-sufficiency in providing the geoscience inputs to sustainable economic development and sound environmental management
3. Increased sharing of technical information between Member Countries, Cooperating Countries, and Cooperating Organizations to learn from each other's experiences and to identify further opportunities for cooperation in capacity building.
- Focal Office:
- Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)
- Date:
- 1966 through a Terms of Reference
25 March 1987 conferred as an intergovernmental organization through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the representatives of nine Member Countries - Focal Persons:
- ATTY. WILFREDO G. MONCANO
Director, DENR-MGB
Tel. No. (632) 920 9120, 920 1635
Alternate
ATTY. DANILO U. UYKIENG
Assistant Director, DENR-MGB
Tel. No. (632) 920 9130, 920 1635
MR. ANTONIO N. APOSTOL, JR.
Chief; Lands Geological Survey Division, DENR-MGB
Tel. No.: (632) 928 8544, 928 8819, 667 6700 local 113
DR. YOLANDA M. AGUILAR
OIC-Chief, Marine Geological Survey Division, DENR-MGB
Tel. No.: (632) 926 0936, 667 6700 local 104 - Commitments:
- - Attendance and active participation in Annual Sessions, Steering Committee Meetings, special meetings, projects, workshops and other activities. This includes sharing of knowledge and experience gained in the geological surveys, researches and works done in the Philippines with other CCOP members. Project participation is also a venue for discussing possible collaborative projects.
- Presentation of project proposals that the Philippines finds necessary to enhance the member countries' capabilities and the region's benefit
- Propose policy and program changes that the Philippines believes should be instituted by CCOP as a way of keeping up with the developing world and regional situations.
- Full participation in capacity building/training courses particularly those developed by the cooperating organizations/countries to enhance the capability of the member country geological organizations through knowledge and skills enhancement of appropriate scientists and exchange of information and data.
- Maintain, and possibly increase, the annual cash contribution made through the Department of Foreign Affairs International Commitment Fund.
- Regularly host annual sessions and steering committee meetings and other conferences and meetings that promote the sharing of knowledge and experiences, interactions and networking amongst Filipino and foreign geoscientists. - Sources / Relevant Links:
- CCOP Website http://www.ccop.or.th/
CCOP information flyer (2017)
50th Year Anniversary Book of CCOP: Unveiling Stories in Geoscience Development for Society (2016)
http://mgb.gov.ph/2015-05-13-02-02-11/mgb-news/579-ph-hosts-53rd-ccop- annual-session-69th-ccop-steering-committee-meeting - Status:
-
Updates
In 2017, the Philippines hosted the 53rd CCOP Annual Session from October 15 to 19 in Cebu City and the 69th CCOP Steering Committee Meeting in Bohol from October 20 to 21. The meetings were organized by the CCOP, Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the Energy Resource Development Bureau, Department of Energy in cooperation with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Department of Science and Technology.
A thematic session held during the said Annual Session of the CCOP focused on the "Role of Geoscience in Safeguarding our Environment." It gathered geologists and other geoscientists from member countries and cooperating countries/organizations to discuss current applications of geoscientific knowledge in addressing geohazards, groundwater, and environmental protection and conservation issues. It also had presentations in the energy sector. This session also provided a venue for delegates to engage in meaningful dialogue, share their experiences and expertise on geoscientific innovations, research findings, new technology, and best practices on relevant topics.
The book proposed by the Philippines during the Annual Session held in Papua New Guinea in 2014 to showcase mine rehabilitation success stories throughout East and Southeast Asia was launched during the CCOP Annual Session held in 2018 in Busan, South Korea. The CCOP book, Best Practices of Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Programmes of Success Stories in East and Southeast Asia is available online at http://ccop.asia/download/2018/MineRehabBk-CCOP201810.pdf.
This Page was updated on 16 December 2019 and will be updated on 10 December 2020
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