To raise awareness on the importance, state, opportunities and challenges affecting the ocean, UNACOM-NCMS in cooperation with the University of the Philippines – Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) organized a series of webinar on Philippine Seas.
The first webinar entitled “Connectivity and Oceanography” was held on 30 November 2020. Dr. Laura T. David, Director, UP-MSI welcomed the participants to the webinar. After which, a brief video of UNESCO on “Ocean Decade: The Science We Need for the Ocean We Want” was presented. The following served as resource persons during the webinar:
Dr. Rachel Ravago-Gotanco – Population connectivity in the West Philippine Sea
Dr. Cesar Villanoy – Potential effects of man-made artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea
Dr. Patrick Cabaitan – Importance of offshore reefs in the Philippine Rise
Dr. Gil S. Jacinto of UP-MSI served as the moderator during the webinar.
On 07 December 2020, the second webinar on “Biodiversity and Threats” was conducted. Deputy Executive Director Lindsay A. Barrientos opened the webinar. UNESCO’s video on “Ocean Decade: The Science We Need for the Ocean We Want” was also presented. Invited resource speakers were:
Dr. Wilfred John Santiaňez – Diversity of seaweeds in the Philippine Archipelago
Dr. Gisela P. Concepcion – Drug discovery from marine cyanobacteria
Dr. Caroline Jaraula – Emerging pollutants as threats to Philippine Marine Biodiversity
Dr. Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone of UP-MSI served as the moderator for this webinar.
The webinars were opened to all scientists, researchers, academe. students, NGOs, representatives from the private sector, the general public, NCMS member-agencies other interested parties. Around 70 people participated in each webinar.
To continue raising awareness and encouraging national and local support for the oceans and the Ocean Decade, UNACOM, in cooperation with its partners, will continue conducting ocean-related webinars in the future.
