The Philippines hosts the 53rd Annual Session of the Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP) from October 15 - 19 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and the 69th CCOP Steering Committee Meeting at the Bellevue Resort Hotel Bohol from October 20 - 21, 2017.
The CCOP is an independent intergovernmental organization, which was founded under the auspices of the United Nations in 1966. Along with the Philippines, the other founding members were China, Japan, and Republic of Korea.
Initially, its function was to promote and coordinate the planning and implementation of joint prospecting programmes and research in Asian offshore and geologically related areas of Member Countries. Its function gradually broadened to encompass activities related to prospecting onshore as well as offshore, geoscientific aspect of the development of the coastal zones, and the dissemination of geoscience information helpful for geohazard mitigation and the protection of life and property.
It is supported financially mainly by its Member Countries, but also benefits from the financial and technical support of Cooperating Countries as well as Cooperating Organizations.
Currently, the CCOP has 14 Member Countries, namely; Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
It is supported by 14 Cooperating Countries, namely; Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation, Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States of America.
This year’s event is being organized by the CCOP, Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR – MGB) and Department of Energy – Energy Resource Development Bureau (DOE – ERDB), in cooperation with Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHILVOCS).
Included in every CCOP Annual Session is a Thematic Session.
With the theme “The Role of Geoscience in Safeguarding our Environment,” this year’s Thematic Session seeks to gather geologists and mining engineers from Member Countries to raise public awareness on the importance of the application of geoscientific knowledge in addressing environmental protection and conservation issues. It also provides a venue for the delegates to engage in meaningful dialogues, share their experiences and expertise on geoscientific innovations, research findings, new technology, best practices, and other relevant topics.
Paper and poster presentations will be done covering the following sub-themes:
- Mineral and Energy Resource Development and Environmental Protection
- Geohazard Risk Reduction
- Geoheritage
- Geoscience Information Management
- Groundwater Resource Development and Environmental Protection
The information and knowledge derived can serve as input for other stakeholders and policy-makers to make way for new science-based policy directions and decisions towards the sustainable development of natural resources and hazard risk reduction.
Meanwhile, the Steering Committee, which is the governing or policy-making body of the organization that comprises the permanent representatives of the Member Countries, meets twice a year “to establish policies and principles which will govern the activities of CCOP; to approve the broad framework of its programme, the budget and accounts for each year; to appoint the Director of CCOP, and receive and consider his reports on the functions delegated to him,” the CCOP website states.
For questions or clarifications, please contact:
Director Wilfredo G. Moncano, Acting Director, MGB
Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the CCOP