Ateneo Students named Sub Regional and National Advisor of SEAYEN
After the Southeast Asia Youth Environment Network delegation held in Bali Indonesia last March, Masaki Matsuhashi of the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health was appointed as Sub Regional Advisor and Gerald Perry Marin, an alumnus of Ateneo de Manila University (BS ES ’12) was appointed as the National Advisor for the Philippines.
They were also accompanied by other delegates Amel Alipao of Caraga State University, Ponce Samañego of Asian Development Bank and Iris May Ellen Caluag.
Southeast Asia Youth Environment Network (SEAYEN) is a group affiliated with the United Nations Environment Program’s Tunza youth engagement strategy. It encourages the youth to participate on environmental programs and initiatives at sub-regional levels.
Every two years, representatives from 10 countries of Southeast Asia gather to discuss environmental issues and propose action plans.
During the delegation, the Philippine representatives presented the efforts of the Ateneo Environmental Society, urban restoration activities in Taytay, the national level environmental programs of the government and disaster reduction plans.
“Even if we have cultural differences, and there are language barriers, what amazes me is we came up with an action plan anyway”
shared Caluag. “Sa kabila ng mga pagkakaiba-iba, meron pa rin kaming mga common issues to face as ASEAN” added Marin.
As the Sub Regional Advisor, Matsuhashi will be in charge of liaising between the United Nations, the SEAYEN and the ten countries
of the Southeast Asia. He also has the responsibility to make sure that the other countries have ongoing activities for the environment.
Marin on the other hand was named National Advisor for the Philippines. He will be in charge of localizing projects from UNEP. He will head all nation-wide activities.
The five delegates have four main projects this year; reviving the Philippine Youth Environment Network (PhilYEN), the Asia Pacific Water Summit, the World Environment Day and National Youth Innovation Summit.
On May 12-21 2013, the five SEAYEN Philippine delegates will be organizing the Asia Pacific Water Summit in Chiangmai Thailand.
