PH Reaffirms Commitment to Protecting Marine Ecosystems, Maritime Thematic Thrust at High-Level Forum to Commemorate Coral Triangle Day
MANADO 24 June 2024 – In commemoration of Coral Triangle Day last 09 June 2024, Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia, Gina A. Jamoralin, and Philippine Consul General to Manado, Mary Jennifer D. Dingal participated in the Blue Natural Capital High Level Forum co-organized by the Coral Triangle Initiative and the Blue Institute held on 07-09 June 2024, in Manado, Indonesia.
Ambassador Jamoralin in her intervention reaffirmed the Philippines’ strong commitment to protect, conserve and restore the country’s ecosystems through the recent signing of the Philippine Environmental and Natural Capital Accounting System Act. She also emphasized that the Philippines treats maritime issues, such as maritime environment protection, as part and parcel of Philippine foreign policy.
The Coral Triangle is a marine area known to be the epicentre of marine biodiversity, which encompasses the seas of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Timor Leste. The Coral Triangle is home to diverse species of reef-building corals, marine turtles, and reef fish which sustains the world’s demand for food, livelihood and protection from threats of climate change.
Participants of the Blue Natural Capital High Level Forum were also given a guided tour of the Nusatuna Tuna Processing Plant and PT Sinar Purefoods Canning Facility located at Bitung, Indonesia to see the actual operations in processing harvested tuna into frozen or preserved tuna for export and consumption. The guided tour featured the sustainable practices of the facilities, such as use of protective gear to avoid contamination of products and ensure safety of workers, environment-friendly processing techniques, and carbon neutral processes, among others.
Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) was launched in Manado, North Sulawesi on 15 May 2009. Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo represented the Philippines during the CTI Leaders Summit in May 2009. END
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