The Philippine delegation, led by MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan, has expressed its strong support for the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Glofouling and Biofouling Projects during the 3rd Global Project Task Force Meeting and the Women in Maritime – Biofouling Management Workshop of the GEF-UNDP-IMO GloFouling Partnerships and TEST Biofouling Projects held in Indonesia from 10-13 March 2025.

“By actively participating in the Glofouling and Biofouling Projects, we reaffirm the Philippines’ dedication to ensuring the sustainable development of our maritime industry. These projects offer a unique opportunity to collaborate with international partners, share knowledge, and strengthen our collective efforts in managing biofouling risks and protecting marine ecosystems,” said Administrator Malaluan.

As one of the Lead Partnering Countries of the IMO Glofouling Project, the Philippines presented its accomplishments in implementing the initiative, including the development of three (3) key reports:

1. National Status Assessment Report – An assessment of the current state of biofouling management in the Philippines, identifying risks to the maritime industry.
2. National Economic Assessment Report – An evaluation of the economic impacts of biofouling and invasive aquatic species (IAS) in the Philippines.
3. National Strategy and Action Plan (NSAP) – A framework outlining the country’s national policies and strategies for biofouling management and improvements to existing practices. The NSAP is aligned with the Philippines’ Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP) 2018-2028 and the Regional Strategy on Biofouling Management.

The Philippines also expressed strong support for the proposal to extend the Glofouling Project, recognizing its potential to address implementation challenges faced by member countries and ensure the project’s sustainability.

The event aimed to conduct an end-of-project review of the Glofouling Project, capturing lessons learned, exploring opportunities for scaling up, and presenting project results. The final review meeting also discussed findings from the project terminal evaluation report and the corresponding management response.

On 13 March 2025, the Women in Maritime – Biofouling Management Workshop was conducted to strengthen the involvement of women in the maritime sector and promote best practices in gender equality within the biofouling industry. The event was held in collaboration with the Women in Maritime Association-Indonesia and Women’s International and Trading Association (WISTA)
The Philippines, in collaboration with the global community, remains committed to advancing biofouling initiatives and promoting gender equality in the industry.

The GPTF meeting included representatives from all Lead Partnering Countries (LPCs), Regional Coordinating Organizations (RCOs), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Executing Partners, Strategic Partners, Industry Representatives, the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) of IMO and Regional Women Associations.

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