Arroyo names own daughter as project director of CTI Secretariat

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 21, 2009) - President Gloria Arroyo has named her only daughter, Evangeline Lourdes Arroyo, program director of the newly-created Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) secretariat that will carry out the resolutions formulated by the leaders of six CTI member countries at their summit in Manado, Indonesia, the official Philippine News Agency reported.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde announced the appointment on May 17 over Radyo ng Bayan where he stressed the “very successful participation” of the President and her delegation in the recently-concluded CTI leaders’ summit in Manado.

Though eligible for foreign-service posting, having passed the Foreign Service Officers exams, the young Arroyo had chosen to take a low-profile position in private foundations, away from the glare of publicity.

Arroyo's daughter, according to the PNA, surfs and scuba dives a lot like her parents and is active in nature conservation efforts, particularly the marine ecosystems.

She also headed the Foundation for Information Technology Education and Development as director for strategic development, which conducted MindShare networking sessions at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in cooperation with the Philippine Venture Capital Investment Group.

The Coral Triangle is a vast marine resource bordering Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. It is where 70 percent of the world’s coral reefs are found. The breeding ground for fishes and marine resources, it supplies 80 percent of the world’s fish and fishery requirements.

The CTI Leaders Summit was the culmination of the World Ocean Conference of 70 countries which recognized the importance of the Coral Triangle.

The President has underscored the significance of the Coral Triangle to future generations, especially in the CTI nations.

The CTI will primarily focus on areas of cooperation in relation to coral reefs, fisheries and food security, and adaptation to climate change, Remonde said.

At the Manado summit, the CTI leaders adopted a regional plan of action -- a living and non-legally binding document -- to conserve and sustainably manage coastal and marine resources within the Coral Triangle region that takes into consideration laws and policies of each country, he added.

Remonde said the CTI secretariat will initiate the mobilization and effective allocation of sustainable financial resources needed to implement regional and national plans of actions.
The six CTI leaders pledged to set aside their respective allocations for CTI programs. These allocations will be matched by developed countries through the Global Environment Fund administered by the Asian Development Bank. (PNA)