Sixth ASEAN Chief Justices' Roundtable on Environment: Forging the Sustainable Future of the ASEAN Region

10 - 13 November 2016

Event Tabs

From 10-13 November 2016, the Supreme Court of the Philippines and ADB cohosted the Sixth ASEAN Chief Justices' Roundtable on Environment with the theme "Forging the Sustainable Future of the ASEAN Region." Supreme Court of the Philippines Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno and ADB Vice President for Administration and Corporate Management Ms. Deborah Stokes opened the roundtable and welcomed the participants to Palawan, the last ecological frontier of the Philippines. All 10 ASEAN countries were represented, including Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Hj Kifrawi bin Dato Paduka Hj Kifli of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam and Chief Justice Tun Arifin bin Zakaria of the Federal Court of Malaysia. 

The participants delivered their ​progress reports on their implementation​​ of the Jakarta Common Vision and the Hanoi Action Plan​. ​Three resource persons, Justice Rachel Pepper, Prof. Dr. Diane A. Desierto and Mr. Matthew Baird,  shared their environmental and climate change law expertise with the participants.​ Justice Rachel Pepper surveyed landmark climate change cases worldwide and Prof. Dr. Diane A. Desierto highlighted the most important climate change treaties governing the Southeast Asian region and the implications of the new Paris Agreement on the domestic and regional litigation landscape.​ ​​In addition, ​Justice Pepper and Mr. Baird discussed the significance of judicial networks in promoting mutual assistance.  

November 10 (Thursday)

 

Welcome Reception and Dinner

Smart Casual | Sala Restaurant, Prinsesa Garden Island Resort

 
Whole day

Arrival and check-in

 
7:00 p.m.

Cocktails

 
7:30

Welcome Reception
Hosted by the Philippine Supreme Court

Welcome Message
Hon. Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno
Chief Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines

Message from the City Government
Hon. Lucilo R. Bayron
Mayor, Puerto Princesa City

Dinner

Special Performances
Hon. Jenny Lind A. Delorino
Deputy Court Administrator, Office of the Court Administrator

Puerto Princesa City Chorale and the Kawangis ng Tribu Band

 

November 11 (Friday)

 

Welcome Ceremonies

Business Attire |Hari Meeting Room 3, Prinsesa Garden Island Resort

Moderator: Atty. Theodore O. Te

Assistant Court Administrator and Chief Public Information Officer

 
6:00-9:00 a.m.

Breakfast
Rice Restaurant

 
9:00-9:05

Opening Remarks
Hon. Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno
Chief Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines

 
9:05-9:10

Welcome Message
Ms. Deborah Stokes
Vice President for Administration and Corporate Management, ADB

 
9:10-9:30

Official Photo

 
9:30-9:45

Coffee Break

 

Conference Proper

Business Attire | Hari Meeting Rooms 1 and 2, Prinsesa Garden Island Resort

PART I: PROGRESS OF THE ASEAN JUDICIARIES IN ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

 
9:45 a.m.

Opening Remarks
Hon. Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno
Chief Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines

 
9:45-10:00

Introduction of Delegates

 
10:00-10:10

Overview: The ADB Law, Policy and Reform Program, the Asian Judges’ on Environment, and the ASEAN Chief Justices’ Roundtable on Environment
Mr. Christopher H. Stephens
General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, ADB

 
10:10-10:20

Introduction to the Jakarta Common Vision, the Hanoi Action Plan, and the Angkor Statement
Ms. Atsuko Hirose
Advisor, Office of the General Counsel, ADB

 
10:20-10:45

Report of the ASEAN Nations on their Progress on the Jakarta Common Vision, the Hanoi Action Plan, and the Angkor Statement-Part I
(5-8 minutes each)
The Philippines (Host Country)
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia

 
10:45-11:00

Coffee Break

 
11:00-12:00

Report of the ASEAN Nations on their Progress on the Jakarta Common Vision, the Hanoi Action Plan, and the Angkor Statement-Part II
(5-8 minutes each)
Indonesia
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Malaysia
Myanmar
Singapore
Thailand
Viet Nam

 
12:00-1:00 p.m.

Lunch

 

PART II: EMERGING ENVIRONMENTAL LEGAL AND JUDICIAL CHALLENGES

 
1:00-1:30 p.m.

The Climate Change Regime and Its Implications for ASEAN Judiciaries
Overview: Discussion will focus on salient points of the climate change treaties governing the Southeast Asian region and the implications of the new Paris Agreement on their environmental and climate litigation landscape.

Resource Persons:
Justice Rachel Pepper, Judge, New South Wales Land and Environment Court, Australia | Prof. Dr. Diane A. Desierto, Associate Professor of Law and Michael J. Marks Distinguished Professor in Business Law, William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii, and Co-Director, ASEAN Law & Integration Center.

 
1:30-2:00
Discussion
 
2:00-2:30

The Role of Judicial Networks in Promoting Mutual Assistance
Overview: Discussion will focus on the role played by judicial and other networks in addressing environmental issues and the factors that influenced their success.

Resource Persons:
Justice Rachel Pepper , Judge, New South Wales Land and Environment Court, Australia | Mr. Matthew Baird, Consultant, PACT’s Mekong Partnership for the Environment Project and Vermont Law School’s U.S.-Asia Partnerships for Environmental Law

 
2:30-3:00

Discussion

 
3:00-3:15

Synthesis
Atty. Brenda Jay C. Angeles-Mendoza
Chief, Philippine Mediation Center Office
Philippine Supreme Court Representative

 
3:15-3:30

Coffee Break / Free Time

 
3:30-7:00

Puerto Princesa City Tour
[Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan (MIMAROPA) Trade Fair, Immaculate Concepcion Church, Plaza Cuartel, MIMAROPA Parade] (Please see Tour Arrangements for detailed itinerary)

 
7:00-9:00

Dinner
Rice Restaurant

 

November 12 (Saturday)

 

Conference Proper

Business Attire | Hari Meeting Rooms 1 and 2, Prinsesa Garden Island Resort

PART III: FORGING THE ROAD AHEAD FOR ASEAN JUDICIAL COOPERATION ON ENVIRONMENT

 
6:00-9:00 a.m.

Breakfast
Rice Restaurant

 
9:00

Call to Order
Hon. Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno
Chief Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines

 
9:00-10:00

Deliverable 1: Discussion on the Proposed Joint Judicial Training
on Environment

Sub-topics:

  • Updates on Domestic and Transboundary Environmental Issues
  • Relevant Laws and Judicial Rules of Procedure on Environmental Protection
  • Assessment of Evidence on Environmental Damage, and Initiatives on Cleanup and Restoration
  • Best Practices in Adjudication of Environmental Cases

Action Items:

  • Commitment from ASEAN Judiciaries as Hosts
  • Identification of Experts

Resource Persons:
Justice Rachel Pepper, Judge, New South Wales Land and Environment Court, Australia | Prof. Dr. Diane A. Desierto, Associate Professor of Law and Michael J. Marks Distinguished Professor in Business Law, William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii, and Co-Director, ASEAN Law & Integration Center | Mr. Matthew Baird, Consultant, PACT’s Mekong Partnership for the Environment Project and Vermont Law School’s U.S.-Asia Partnerships for Environmental Law

 
10:00-10:45

Deliverable 2: Discussion on the Proposed Information-Sharing Mechanism on Global Legal Jurisprudence and ASEAN Judicial Processes on Environment

Action Items:

  • Approval of mechanism on information-sharing
  • Identification of Experts

Resource Persons:
Justice Rachel Pepper, Judge, New South Wales Land and Environment Court, Australia | Prof. Dr. Diane A. Desierto, Associate Professor of Law and Michael J. Marks Distinguished Professor in Business Law, William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii, and Co-Director, ASEAN Law & Integration Center | Mr. Matthew Baird, Consultant, PACT’s Mekong Partnership for the Environment Project and Vermont Law School’s U.S.-Asia Partnerships for Environmental Law

 
10:45-11:00

Coffee Break

 
11:00-11:45

Deliverable 3: Discussion on the Proposed Organizational Structure for a Technical Working Group on Environment

Sub-topics:

  • Formation of a Technical Working Group on Environment under the Council of ASEAN Chief Justices
  • Environment Secretariat

Action Items:

  • Approval of the formation of the TWG
  • Identification of Members of the TWG
  • Hosting of the Secretariat
 
11:45-11:50

Synthesis
Atty. Brenda Jay C. Angeles-Mendoza
Chief, Philippine Mediation Center Office
Philippine Supreme Court Representative

 
11:50-11:55

Concluding Message
Ms. Deborah Stokes
Vice President for Administration and Corporate Management, ADB

 
11:50-11:55

Closing Remarks
Hon. Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno
Chief Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines

 
12:00-onwards

Lunch / Free Time
Rice Restaurant

 

Culmination Night

Filipiniana/National Costume/Smart Casual | Provincial Capitol Grounds, Puerto Princesa City

 
6:00 p.m.-onwards

Culmination Night
Hosted by the Province of Palawan

Welcome Remarks
Hon. Jose Ch. Alvarez
Governor, Province of Palawan

Dinner
With Special Performances

Presentation of Tokens to the ASEAN Judiciaries

Messages from the ASEAN Judiciaries
Heads of Delegations

Closing Remarks
Hon. Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno
Chief Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines

Official Photo

 

November 13 (Sunday)

 

Check-out / Hosted Underground River Tour

For those not availing of the Hosted Underground River Tour

 
5:30 a.m.

Breakfast
Rice Restaurant

 
9:00-12:00

Free Time

 
12:00

Check-out

 

For those availing of the Hosted Underground River Tour
(Please see Tour Arrangements for detailed itinerary)

 
5:30 a.m.

Breakfast
Rice Restaurant

 
5:30

Departure from the Hotel Lobby to Brgy. Sabang Tour Proper

 
11:00

Arrival at hotel
Check-out

 
Preliminary Materials

Indicative Program

  Download
332.61 KB
 
Preliminary Materials

Revised Conference Agenda

  Download
1.29 MB