DFA Co-Organizes Max Planck Foundation Workshop on Regional Cooperation and Ocean Governance

(Photo Courtesy of PCG)

MANILA 10 October 2025 — Representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs – Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (DFA-MOAO), the Office of ASEAN Affairs (DFA-ASEAN), and Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs (DFA-ASPAC) joined the Max Planck Foundation Workshop on Regional Cooperation and Ocean Governance held from 29 September 2025 to 01 October 2025 at the Bayleaf Hotel, Intramuros.

The workshop was designed for mid-level officials from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States, the ASEAN Secretariat and Timor-Leste, offering a comprehensive understanding of the Law of the Sea and its implications for regional cooperation. The objective of the workshop was to promote collaboration and strategic thinking, empowering ASEAN Member States and Timor-Leste to tackle complex maritime issues and strengthen their role in regional and global partnerships.

Participants delved into key maritime governance principles under UNCLOS and discussed the role of international organizations in fostering collaboration within the maritime domain. ASEAN’s guiding principles on managing regional maritime cooperation were central to the discussions.

Through interactive sessions, case studies, and policy discussions, participants gained practical skills to address pressing maritime challenges, including illegal activities at sea, environmental conservation, and the resolution of international disputes. Areas of existing regional cooperation and global leadership by the ASEAN region, such as the designation of archipelagic sea lanes, were also highlighted and explored as a concrete area for further regional consultation and implementation by interested States. 

On the second day of the workshop, participants visited the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for a briefing on the PCG’s multilateral engagements and cooperative efforts. Vice Admiral Edgar Ybañez, Deputy Commandant for Operations, led the PCG delegation in welcoming the participants. In his speech, he highlighted that governance of the sea is a shared responsibility of different countries, which requires collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building to address maritime challenges. The PCG then toured the participants onboard the BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV 8301) while explaining its relevance and capabilities.

The workshop is part of the ASEAN-Germany Cooperation Project entitled “Strengthening Regional Integration and the Implementation of a Rules-Based International Order in ASEAN”, and was co-organized by the DFA and the Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law as part of its activities in celebration of Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month 2025 (MANAMo 2025). END

(Photo Courtesy of PCG)