Filipino Firm Behind Technical Preparation For World Ocean Conference

Manila, Philippines - A Philippine consulting firm is providing support to the Government of Indonesia in their preparations for the one of the largest world events in the marine sector in recent years - the World Ocean Conference (WOC) 2009 and the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) Summit - to be held in Manado, North Sulawesi Province next week.

Manila-based Pacific Rim Innovation and Management Exponents (PRIMEX) has been engaged by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to work with the Indonesian National Organizing Committee (NOC) to help ensure that all arrangements are in place for the key events that are to take place during WOC week.

Close to 2000 people from 121 countries and a large number of international and regional organizations are expected to converge in Manado from 11-15 May 2009 to be part of this event. On the fifth day (15 May 2009), the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) Leaders` Summit will be held and is expected to be attended by the Heads of State of the six CT member countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea [PNG], Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste) including Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who will lead the Philippine delegation.

WOC 2009 is intended to be a forum for the world community to discuss current issues in the marine field, which are related to climate change, in order to achieve an international agreement and draw up an adaptive strategy for the sustainable use of marine resources for the benefit of humanity.The theme of the Conference is "Climate Change Impacts on Oceans and The Role of Oceans in Climate Change."

The PRIMEX Technical Assistance Team (TAT) has been providing technical advice and guidance to the Indonesian NOC in the finalization of the overall Conference program and the various side events that will take place during the weeklong Conference, including an international technical and scientific symposium, Global Ocean Policy Day, an ADB-sponsored Seminar on the Asia-Pacific Experience in Marine and Coastal Resource Management, as well as related technical and administrative arrangements.

PRIMEX also took charge of producing the compilation of around 400 technical abstracts of papers to be presented at the Symposium, including editing the abstracts prior to printing of the Symposium Abstract Book for distribution to the Symposium participants and guests. The abstracts cover 31 topics ranging from coral reef management to marine conservation, marine pollution, marine Tourism, small island development, aquaculture, and many more.

"Oceans play a major role in determining the world`s climate system. The outputs of this Conference/Summit will therefore help determine our critical approaches in caring for our marine resources vis-à-vis the threats of global warming," said PRIMEX President and CEO Elvira Ablaza who also serves as Marine and Coastal Resource Management (MCRM) Specialist of the WOC-TAT.

The Technical Assistance Team (TAT) is composed of PRIMEX Senior Consultant, former Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Guillermo L. Morales as WOC-ADB Program Coordinator/Team Leader; PRIMEX President and CEO, Elvira C. Ablaza as Marine and Coastal Resource Management (MCRM) Specialist; PRIMEX consultant Lydia Napitupulu as national Assistant Program Coordinator; and Senior Manager for Technical Services Leo R. Pura and Ma. Cristina Pascual, PRIMEX consultant, as Program Assistants Coordinators.

The company has been providing consulting services in a number of development sectors including fisheries resource management to various countries in the Asia-Pacific region for 20 years now. (PR-Arvin Yana/PIA XI)

Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph (8 May 2009)
Photo: http://www.primexinc.org

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