The First Session of the 2025 UCLG ASPAC Executive Bureau: Key Highlights

June 9 – 12, 2025 | Boracay – UCLG ASPAC held the First Session of the 2025 Executive Bureau Meeting in Boracay, Aklan Province, Philippines. The event, held under the theme “The Integrated Coastal Management (ICM): Promoting Blue Economy for Sustainable Development,” gathered over 150 delegates from more than 40 local governments and institutions across nine Asia-Pacific countries. The discussions focused on how local governments can address the growing challenges of environmental degradation, climate change, and unsustainable economic practices in coastal regions, particularly through integrated and locally driven solutions.

Highlights:

Opening Ceremony & Key Panel Sessions

The official proceedings began with a grand Opening Ceremony, led by key figures, Governor Jose Enrique “Joen” M. Miraflores of Aklan, Governor Dakila Carlo E. Cua, President of UCLG ASPAC, and Atty. Jesi Howard S. Lanete, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government of the Philippines. The speeches emphasised the importance of local governments in tackling environmental issues and the shared commitment to sustainable coastal governance.

“Integrated Coastal Management is not merely a technical or environmental agenda. It is a governance agenda. It is about leadership—local leadership—that is capable of balancing competing interests, reconciling economic ambition with ecological boundaries, and making long-term decisions that often go against short-term political gain.” – Governor Joen Miraflores of Aklan.

“Our theme, Integrated Coastal Management, promoting the Blue Economy for sustainable development, calls on us to govern differently. It asks us to treat our municipal waters not as margins of development, but as engines of inclusive growth—embracing science, tradition, policy, and participation to replace fragmentation with integration and silos with solidarity. And make no mistake, the future is local, where local leadership drives the change needed for sustainable coastal management and blue economy transition.” – Governor Dakila Carlo Cua of Quirino, President of UCG ASPAC and President of ULAP (Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines).

Panel Session on Integrated Coastal Management (ICM): Promoting Blue Economy for Sustainable Development featured insightful contributions from a distinguished panel of experts. Mr. Campbell Barry, Vice President of Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) and Mayor of Hutt City, New Zealand, discussed the empowerment of cities through Integrated Coastal Management (ICM), emphasising coastal resilience and innovation in local governance. Mayor Belen Fernandez of Dagupan City, Philippines, shared Dagupan’s journey from risk to resilience, focusing on coastal protection and sustainable fisheries. Atty. Raul Corro, Chair of the Policy and Advocacy Committee at ULAP, presented on national leadership in marine governance, highlighting the integration of energy, environment, and coastal sustainability. The session was moderated by Dr. Marcelino Pandin, Advisor of UCLG ASPAC, who guided the discussion and facilitated the exchange of valuable insights on ICM and the Blue Economy.

Parallel Sessions:

• Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) and Maritime Governance: The session featured Gov. Arthur R. Defensor Jr., Governor of Iloilo, Philippines, who discussed localising ICM through provincial leadership, highlighting initiatives such as mangrove rehabilitation, marine protected area enhancement, and sustainable blue swimming crab hatchery programmes in Iloilo. Prof. Jay L. Batongbacal, Director of the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, Philippines, addressed the legal frameworks surrounding municipal water in the Philippines, emphasising the impact of recent court rulings on local governance in marine resources and the need for legal clarity to protect ICM. Mr. Dai Zongjun, a member of the Fuzhou Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning, China, shared Fuzhou’s experience in coastal protection and restoration, focusing on nature-based solutions, including beach restoration and wetland restoration, to mitigate disaster risks and boost resilience. Mr. Imam Fitrianto, Deputy Director for Marine Affairs at Jakarta Provincial Government, Indonesia, spoke on Jakarta’s integrated coastal management journey, covering its efforts in marine and urban spatial planning, marine protected area development, and initiatives addressing pollution and overfishing to ensure coastal resilience. Additionally, Mr. Grick Cordero, Ecosystems Management Specialist II of the Coastal and Marine Division at DENR-BMB, Philippines, discussed the role of ICM in the Philippines, focusing on its integration into local planning processes and how it contributes to global biodiversity and climate goals.
• Blue Economy and Sustainable Tourism: Participants discussed the economic potential of coastal areas, emphasising sustainable tourism as a cornerstone of the blue economy. The session featured Dr. Rhodora V. Azanza, Professor Emeritus at the Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, who highlighted the importance of marine scientific research for the Blue Economy; Dr. Merlina Panganiban, Chief of the Urban Development Office, City Government of Makati, Philippines, who explored urban contributions to the Blue Economy from a metropolitan perspective; Mayor  Dayan Agda of Borongan City, Philippines, who presented community-led coastal stewardship and eco-tourism practices; and Atty. Raul Corro, Chair of the Policy and Advocacy Committee, ULAP, who addressed enabling local governance for the Blue Economy. Additionally, Ms. Kyongseon Hwang, Director of the Culture, Policy Division, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Republic of Korea, briefly introduced Jeju’s Orange Economy, which refers to a creative economy centred on arts, culture, and the creative industries.

Financing for Sustainable Development. It explored how financing mechanisms can support coastal resilience and sustainable development. Prof. Dr. Bambang Susantono, Presidential Special Envoy for International Cooperation on Nusantara Development; first Head of the Nusantara Capital City Authority; Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development, Asian Development Bank (2015–2022); and Special Advisor to UCLG ASPAC, discussed the global and regional perspectives on sustainable financing for infrastructure and development, stressing the importance of reshaping financial systems to support sustainable and equitable development. Dr. Marcelino Pandin, UCLG ASPAC Advisor, highlighted the fiscal challenges faced by local governments, emphasising the lack of feasible, bankable projects and the high transaction costs that deter private investment. Mr. Elmer O. Datuin, City Councillor in Baguio City and National Chairman for Advocacy within the Philippine Councillors League, focused on the role of local governments in advancing sustainable development through legal frameworks, fiscal autonomy, and partnerships, while also addressing the limitations in financial resources and institutional capacity. The session concluded with a lively discussion on the need for enhanced fiscal decentralisation, stronger public-private partnerships, and more community participation to ensure effective and sustainable development.

Hands-on Activities and Executive Bureau Meeting

Participants were also engaged in the Inauguration of the Hydroponic Garden Project at Balabag Elementary School. CLICK HERE to read more.

The Executive Bureau (ExBu) Meeting was held in a hybrid format to accommodate the online participation of ExBu members who were unable to attend onsite in Boracay. The meeting was chaired by UCLG ASPAC President Governor Dakila Carlo Cua, with assistance from Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, UCLG ASPAC Secretary General. During this session, several key decisions were made, including the approval of new members and the acknowledgement of the nominations for UCLG ASPAC Co-Presidency, Executive Bureau and Council members for the 2025-2027 term. The ExBu members also acknowledged and discussed the draft of UCLG ASPAC’s New Manifesto for 2026-2030 and agreed to the establishment of the City and Local Government (CLG) Institute.

Simultaneously, Parallel Sessions were held on Circular Economy (Session 3) and Waste Management and Water Resource Management (Session 4), addressing crucial issues such as marine pollution, plastic waste reduction, and water security in coastal areas.

• Circular Economy and Waste Management focused on the role of local governments in transitioning from linear to circular waste systems. The session featured Mr. Park Daeguen, Director of Environmental Health & Safety Division, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea, who discussed “Regional Cooperation and Policy Frameworks for Waste Reduction and Resource Recovery,” highlighting how inter-city collaboration and provincial coordination have advanced circular waste management practices. Mr. Elmer Datuin, Chairman of the Advocacy Committee for the Philippine Councillors League, Philippines, shared his insights on “Strengthening Local Legislation and Advocacy for Circular Economy Transitions in Philippine Municipalities,” showcasing successful local laws, advocacy campaigns, and multi-level governance that support sustainable waste management. Ms. Patricia dela Cruz, from the UNDP Climate Action Programme – European Union Green Economy Programme, delivered a presentation on “Integrating Climate Action and Circular Economy: Accelerating Local Solutions through Green Development Partnerships,” sharing models and pilot projects from the Asia-Pacific region that demonstrate integrated climate-smart waste management solutions.
• Waste Management and Water Resource Management addressed water security and waste management strategies in coastal areas, with a focus on adaptive water governance. Ms. Veronica Hitosis, Executive Director of the League of Cities of the Philippines, emphasised “Enabling Water Resilience through City Networks and Policy Leadership,” discussing how city-to-city collaboration and policy coordination have advanced integrated urban water management and disaster risk reduction across Philippine cities. Mr. Kwon Chang-ahn (Andra), Manager at Daegu Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea, presented “Urban Water Innovation: Smart Water Management in Daegu City,” showcasing how innovation and technology can improve water efficiency and safety. Sec. Robert E.A. Borje, Vice Chairperson and Executive Director of the Climate Change Commission (CCC), Philippines, shared his perspective on “Water Security in a Changing Climate: National Frameworks for Local Resilience,” focusing on national policies and local government support for water-related climate resilience. Atty. Jose Moises Salonga, Administrator of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), Philippines, presented “Strengthening Water Utilities and Local Governance for Equitable Access and Resilience,” highlighting LWUA’s initiatives to improve access to safe and sustainable water services in municipalities and peri-urban areas.

Secretary General Bernadia presented the Boracay Call for Action, which was officially adopted by all participants and reaffirmed local governments’ commitment to sustainable coastal governance. The Boracay Call for Action highlighted the need for reforming climate and environmental finance systems to ensure local governments have direct access to necessary resources. It was a powerful reminder that coastal resilience is local resilience, and the future of our seas depends on the leadership and collective action of local governments.

Gratitude to the Co-hosts

The success of the First Session of the 2025 UCLG ASPAC Executive Bureau was made possible through the outstanding collaboration and support of the Provincial Government of Aklan and ULAP. Their dedication to the event ensured its seamless execution and fostered a welcoming environment for all participants. Together, the partnership between UCLG ASPAC, the Provincial Government of Aklan, and ULAP demonstrated the power of local governance collaboration, setting a strong precedent for future endeavours in sustainable coastal governance.

Conclusion

Through the First Session of the 2025 UCLG ASPAC Executive Bureau, cities and local governments in Asia-Pacific were reminded of the importance of fostering collaboration and innovation for sustainable coastal governance in the Asia-Pacific region. The adoption of the Boracay Call for Action sets a clear direction for local governments, emphasising the importance of integrated coastal management, blue economy practices, and circular economy strategies. As the region faces increasing environmental challenges, this event marked a significant commitment by local leaders to work together for the future of coastal communities and marine ecosystems.