Philippines

Strengthening maritime security requires not only effective coordination among government agencies but also access to innovative, locally developed technologies that respond to the operational realities of maritime enforcement and monitoring. As part of its efforts to strengthen regional maritime cooperation in Southeast Asia, the GIZ Project "Southeast Asian Cooperation on Maritime Security (SEACOM)," together with the Cebu Technological University System, organized a benchmarking activity that included a series of drone testing activities and technical discussions, October 11-14 in Cebu, Philippines.

In late September, government agencies from local to national, local communities and conservation partners conducted a Participatory Coastal Resource Assessment (PCRA) in Taytay, Palawan, to strengthen the evidence base for coastal resource management and sustainable fisheries in the Philippine Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape. Conducted under the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) framework, the assessment supports the development of a Coastal Resource Management Plan for Taytay.

The Philippines is strengthening its cooperation on marine biodiversity conservation, sustainable fisheries, and coastal resilience through a historic partnership among the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Agriculture (DA) and GIZ.

The management of one of the Philippines' most important marine protected areas is taking another step towards more inclusive and evidence-based conservation. On August 25-27, the SOMACORE Programme and the ASEAN ENMAPS Project worked with the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary (TIWS) to support project coordination and the participatory updating of its Protected Area Management Plan (PAMP).

German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s visit to the Philippines on June 16, 2026, highlighted the enduring cooperation between Germany and the Philippines, with GIZ playing a key role in translating this partnership into action.

The TRANSCEND Project brought together government agencies, partner organizations, and civil society to exchange lessons, align priorities, and chart the next steps toward a more climate-resilient and biodiversity-friendly Philippines.

The Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary (TIWS), an ASEAN Heritage Park and one of the Philippines' most important marine biodiversity sites, hosted a multi-institutional mission, June 21 to 27, to strengthen protected area management and support long-term conservation efforts.

The 2nd Bismarck Solomon Seascape (BSS) Dialogue convened on May 15 in Grand Papua Hotel, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG), bringing together representatives from Indonesia, PNG, and the Solomon Islands to strengthen regional collaboration for marine and coastal resilience across the BSS.

Community leaders, conservation organizations, and development partners from across the Bismarck Solomon Seas region gathered during the Melanesian Ocean Summit to showcase how locally led marine conservation initiatives are helping advance global biodiversity, climate, and ocean commitments while strengthening food security and coastal livelihoods across Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands.