13 November 2014 - The Philippine Government actively participated in the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) 10th Senior Officials Meeting held from November 05 to 07 in Hotel the Ramelau in Dili, Timor-Leste.
The Philippine delegation was headed by Mr. Manuel D. Gerochi, Undersecretary for Policy of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Other members of the delegation were Ms. Lilybeth R. Deapera, Acting Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Oceans Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Pablo G. de los Reyes of the DENR, and Ms. Jane Desiree F. Andal of the National Economic and Development Authority.
The Philippine Embassy in Dili provided logistical support for the Philippine delegation.
The high-level meeting built on the previous discussions made towards the formal establishment of the CTI-CFF as a regional organization, and the implementation of the CTI Regional Plan of Action which has the overarching goal of safeguarding the region’s marine and coastal biological resources.
Launched in 2009, the CTI-CFF is a multilateral partnership among the six countries in the Coral Triangle which encompasses the coasts, seas and reefs of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. The region is home to the highest coral diversity in the world, which accounts for about 76% of the world’s known coral species, as well as 37% of the world’s reef fish species. The area is also a spawning and nursery ground for 6 species of threatened marine turtles, endangered fish, and cetaceans such as tuna and blue whale.END