Archive

El Nido and Coron, Palawan—Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) and its local government and community partners inaugurated two (2) new marine protected area (MPA) stations in Palawan as part of enhancing enforcement for MPAs in MFI’s partner communities in El Nido and Coron.

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Linapacan, Palawan— Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI) inaugurated with the Linapacan local government on June 24, 2024 its pilot community micro-grid sites in the municipality to support missionary electrification of remote sites and islands.

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Batangas City, Batangas—Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) and its partners Philippine Red Cross-Batangas Chapter, Batangas Medical Center and the Philippine Medical Association Batangas Chapter held a Medical Mission on June 19 and 20, 2024 at the Ambulong covered court in partnership with the Barangay local government as part of the Malampaya Clinical Laboratory’s continuous medical outreach for partner communities in the city.

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Naujan, Oriental Mindoro—Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI) together with the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro (PGOM) yesterday turned over 46 Japan-made marine engines to active deputized bantay dagats (sea rangers) from the different coastal municipalities to support the strengthening of enforcement within municipal waters as part of the province’s 2023-2027 Oil Spill Recovery Plan.

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Coron, Palawan- Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) and Western Philippines University (WPU) conducted yesterday, April 11, 2024, pioneer release in the wild of six (6) Philippines’ true native giant clam Tridacna gigas sub adults at a No-Take Zone in the Bulalacao Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Coron, Palawan.

The year 2023 was another year of many triumphs and trials, if you recall, in the first quarter of the year alone, a tanker oil spill affected a number of our south Oriental Mindoro conservation sites.  Nonetheless, with the collective efforts of partners and other parties, the worst is over and we continue our support to partner communities in helping overcome this tragedy.

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Pola, Oriental Mindoro--The combined effect of MPA and Enforcement Network, community-based coastal resource management efforts, and province-wide annual seasonal closure continues to bear fruit with the recent “fish-picking” phenomenon at Barangay Puting Cacao in Pola, Oriental Mindoro that was experienced by residents of this coastal barangay after the 7^th cycle of the province’s annual seasonal closure from Nov 15 to Jan 15.

Oriental Mindoro —BPI Foundation (BPIF), the social arm of the Bank of Philippine Islands, and Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI) teamed up and signed a partnership in September 2023 to undertake additional skills trainings in south Oriental Mindoro to support recovery of select oil spill-affected towns in the province.

Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI), Prime Energy Resources Development and the municipal government of Linapacan, Palawan yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for partnership in the solar micro-grid electrification of select areas in the municipality.

One hundred thirty-eight (138) youths from the municipalities of Taytay, El Nido, Linapacan and Coron participated in Environmental Youth Action Camps held in various locations in the province in November.

Calapan, Oriental Mindoro—Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) and the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro renewed their memorandum of agreement (MOA) for partnerships in various programs covering marine biodiversity conservation, socio-economic improvement programs, disaster relief and others.

Malampaya Foundation (MFI) and Western Philippines University (WPU) recently transferred and restocked locally-extinct Philippines' true native giant clam Tridacna gigas in select strict marine protection zones in El Nido and Coron, Palawan. The transfer of adult and juvenile clams of the said species aims to expand the presence of the hatchery-grown giant clam species, declared locally-extinct in the 1980s, to support its long-term survival and presence.

Malampaya Foundation Inc.’s (MFIs) partner conservation site Ranzo Fish Sanctuary located in barangay Ranzo, Pinamalayan in the province of Oriental Mindoro landed 2^nd BEST-MANAGED MARINE PROTECTED AREA (MPA) at the 2023 country-wide Para El Mar awards, awarded yesterday in Cebu City.  On the other hand, MFI’s other conservation site Maasin Fish Sanctuary in barangay Maasin, Bulalacao in the same province finished 6^th place.

El Nido, Palawan—Three (3) marine protected areas (MPAs) were inaugurated yesterday at Teneguiban’s covered court in El Nido, Palawan by the local government of El Nido, barangays San Fernando and Teneguiban and Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI).

Calapan, Oriental Mindoro—Two (2) batches of educational youth camps were completed on August 11, 2023 in Oriental Mindoro for Malampaya Foundation Inc.’s (MFI’s) and partners’ regular engagements with the next generation on environmental stewardship.

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Coron, Palawan-- In partnership with the Coron municipal tourism office, Provincial Tourism Office and the Department of Tourism, a seven (7)-day tour-guiding enhancement training was held with participants totaling 70 from Coron and Linapacan.

Coron, Palawan—Five (5) partner conservation sites of Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI) located in the municipalities of Coron and Linapacan were awarded at the 2023 USAID Recognition Awards for Calamianes’ Enhanced Ecosystem (RACE).

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Pola, Oriental Mindoro- A second wave of food aid to 83 active bantay dagats of Pola, Oriental Mindoro was released, c/o UC38 LLC, to support their continuing enforcement and management of marine protected areas (MPAs) in their coastal waters in the midst of the fishing ban.

Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI) together with the Department of Energy (DOE) released conservation partner communities’ conservation incentives for active volunteer bantay dagats and park rangers throughout north Palawan, Oriental Mindoro and Verde Island Passage sites in June.

Nothing is more important than educating the next generation the importance of management and responsible utilization of natural resources in and around their communities.

Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI) signed an agreement with Friends of Tubbataha (FOT), a foundation established to support fund-raising for the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, among the country’s UNESCO World Heritage site, located in east Palawan.

More than 600 registered fisherfolks of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro were provided food aid support yesterday by Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI) to help bridge the effects of the oil spill from a tanker that sank within the municipality’s waters on February 28, 2023.

Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI) released more food aid for active bantay dagats and members of conservation-partner people’s organizations in the municipalities of Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bulalacao, Naujan, Bongabong and Bansud as disaster relief support from the impacts of the oil spill in the municipal waters of Naujan.

El Nido, Palawan- Conservation partner communities barangays Teneguiban and San Fernando renewed conservation agreements (CA’s) with Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI) yesterday at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Protected Area Office (DENR-PAO) in El Nido, Palawan.

Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI) provided materials for marine protected areas (MPAs) in vulnerable locations to serve as buffer to the oil spill on the waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

The year 2022 showed steady recovery from the impacts of Covid lockdowns, especially for some of our socio-economic improvement programs. Our marine conservation partnerships likewise continue to make consistent progress with regards to conservation management and biological improvements. However, as I deliver this report today March 15, 2023, we are in the midst of supporting oil spill response in south Oriental Mindoro which has negatively impacted some of our conservation sites in the province, particularly in the municipality of Pola, where thick sludge landed from the spill site of the sunken oil tanker.

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Pola, Oriental Mindoro— Bags of food aid were sent to Pola’s 92 active bantay dagats (sea rangers) who were among the first responders to the oil spill that transpired off the coast of Naujan on February 28, 2023.

Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI) deployed clean-up materials to Pola, Oriental Mindoro to support the oil spill response in the areas affected by the pollution from the sunken vessel RDC Reield off Naujan carrying 900,000 liters of industrial oil from a manufacturing facility in Limay, Bataan.

Puerto Princesa, Palawan—Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) renewed its partnership for north Palawan yesterday, February 7, 2023 at PCSD’s office in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

Malampaya Foundation Inc.’s (MFI’s) marine biodiversity conservation program was awarded an Environment Social and Governance (ESG) award by Unicepta in November as “Best ESG Campaign or Case Study to Prevent or Reduce marine pollution.

Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) distributed its usual food incentive support to volunteer bantay dagats (sea rangers) and national park rangers (Malampaya Sound and El Nido protected area) in its conservation sites in Batangas city, Oriental Mindoro and north Palawan.

Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) has renewed agreements for the Malampaya Sustainable Development (SD) scholarships with select universities in the fields of engineering, geology and environment sciences and management.

Puerto Princesa, Palawan—Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Adventist Hospital Palawan (AHP) on October 13, 2022 to support emergency response for the Malampaya offshore operations and provide a charity fund for indigent patients from Palawan.

‍Puerto Princesa, Palawan—MFI's conservation site and partner community Bulalacao in Coron, Palawan was awarded Best Locally-Managed MPA second time in a row at the Palawan provincial government's recent PEARL Awards on September 20, 2022, during the 2 Palawan MPA Summit. Bulalacao MPA was the recipient of the same award in 2020.

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Removal and/or injection of Crown of Thorns (COTs) starfish in reefs throughout Malampaya Foundation Inc’s (MFIs) conservation sites in north Palawan, Oriental Mindoro and Batangas City have been continuous due to observed COTs outbreak in many reefs

Calapan, Oriental Mindoro—Fourteen (14) Conservation Agreements (CAs) with 14 Oriental Mindoro coastal communities in six (6) municipalities were renewed on July 27, 2022 in Calapan between Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI), the community partners, municipal local governments and the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro.

Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro—The Department of Energy (DOE),  Provincial Agricultural Office (PAGO) and Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI) lead the formal inauguration and turn-over of a conservation enterprise facility in Puerto Galera to MFI’s community conservation partner Samahang Pangkabuhayan ng Taga Dulangan (SPTD), an association formed to be the local champion in coastal resource management and steward of the community’s 17.8-hectare marine protected area (MPA) established in 2015.

Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro—Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI) and its partners in Marine Biodiversity Conservation program have resumed face-to-face Environmental Youth Camps (EYC) since the onset of the Covid lockdowns.

Batangas City, Batangas—A graduation ceremony was held anew by Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI) for 95 Bridging for Employment through Skills Training (BEST) vocational scholars last June 29, 2022 at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Regional Training Center covered gym.

Taytay, Palawan—Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI) formally turned over and inaugurated  yesterday, June 13, 2022, the completed ranger station located in the outer Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape (MSPLS) to the Protected Area Office (PAO)-Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Coron, Palawan—Six (6) island resorts and a pearl farm in Bulalacao, Coron signed a pledge on June 3, 2022 to continue its support to the multiple awarded 3,468-hectare Bulalacao marine protected area (MPA), established in 2014 with full technical and logistical continuing support from Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI).

Coron, Palawan—Various biodiversity-friendly conservation enterprise project grants were turned over by  Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) to partners in barangays Marcilla and Bulalacao in Coron on May 24-25, 2022 as part of MFI’s socio-economic improvement support to the community under its marine biodiversity conservation program.

Coron, Palawan—Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) renewed its conservation agreement (CA) with barangay Marcilla in Coron, Palawan on May 23, 2022 for the continuing management improvement and protection of its 7,284-hectare marine protected area (MPA) established in 2016 with full technical and logistical support from MFI.

Taytay, Palawan—A conservation enterprise project was formally inaugurated yesterday at barangay Banbanan in Taytay, Palawan by the barangay local government, Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) and its community conservation partner Samahan sa Pangkaunlaran ng Banbanan (SAPAKABA).

As we reflect on what 2021 was, let me say that Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI) had a notable number of triumphs as part of outcomes from hard work between partners and ourselves. We also experienced setbacks in view of natural phenomenon over which we had no control. Nonetheless, there are a handful of successes to be thankful for:

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Taytay, Palawan-- More than 61,000 kilos (61+ tons) of food items from Malampaya Foundation Inc (MFI) arrived at Liminancong Port in Taytay, Palawan on January 5, 2022 destined for various communities in west Taytay and the municipalities of Araceli, Dumaran and Roxas.

Calapan, Oriental Mindoro—Malampaya Foundation Inc.’s (MFI’s) partner conservation sites in Oriental Mindoro claimed nine (9) out of the Top 10 BEST-MANAGED Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and three (3) out of four (4) SUSTAINED MPAs awards at the recent province-wide STAR (Sustaining MPAs through Awards and Recognitions) AWARDS of Oriental Mindoro.

Coron, Palawan—Five (5) partner conservation sites of Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) in the Calamianes region of North Palawan reaped multiple recognitions at the 2021 Recognition Awards for Calamianes’ Enhanced Ecosystem (RACE) Awards run by USAID’s Fish Right project.

Oriental Mindoro—Malampaya Foundation Inc.’s (MFI’s) community organization conservation partner Kabisig ng Mangingisda ng Ilag (KAMI) based in Barangay Ilag of the municipality of San Teodoro in Oriental Mindoro was awarded a Local Tourism Stakeholder Excellence Award by the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro on September 24, 2021.

Forty-nine (49)-hectare St. John the Baptist marine sanctuary located at barangay Puting Cacao of Pola municipality in Oriental Mindoro landed 5th in the top 10 of the Outstanding Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) of the Philippines at the recent Para El Mar awards, which recognizes best-managed MPAs nationwide on a bi-annual basis.

Oriental Mindoro—Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) conducted relief operations on July 29, 2021 in the municipalities of Naujan and Baco which were affected by typhoon Fabian which caused massive flooding in certain inland locations due to denuded areas of Mount Halcon.

Oriental Mindoro—More art, this time on board canvas, were painted by youths of the province to express the importance, fragility and human impacts on the environment.

Batangas City—To help revive the environment in the surrounding areas of Tingga Falls in Batangas City, indigenous and/or endemic tree species were planted yesterday in partnership with Trees for Life Foundation, Batangas City local government and the local community of barangay Tingga.

Taytay, Palawan—The very first hatchery-bred giant clams of the String-of-Pearls project were released into the wild yesterday at a strict protection zone at the outer Malampaya Sound national park in Taytay, Palawan.

Children of fisher families in the coastlines of Batangas and Oriental Mindoro took part in the various mural art contests demonstrating the value of coastal and marine ecosystems and its proper management and protection by its users.

North Palawan—Collection of Crown-of-Thorns (COTs) starfish in El Nido and Linapacan sites were undertaken with communities and volunteers to help arrest the demise of reefs in the conservation sites.

Taytay, Palawan—In August 2018, Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) and Western Philippines University (WPU) with the technical support of University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) conducted the maiden spawning of Tridacna squamosa giant clam species at WPU’s hatchery and marine station in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

You have heard and it has been said countless times that 2020 was certainly a “unique” year. For all the challenges the year presented to the world, it was not different for Malampaya Foundation.

Despite Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) and Western Philippines University (WPU) being unable to conduct in-situ spawning for the Philippines’ true native Tridacna gigas the whole year due to the Covid lockdowns and travel restrictions.

Western Philippines University (WPU) and Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) recently launched Adopt-A-Shell, a fundraising scheme to help bring back endangered and threatened shell species to reefs in core zones of effectively-managed marine protected areas.

In celebration of its 15th year, Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) awarded the Top 15 community conservation partner organizations.

Puerto Princesa, Palawan - The 3,468-hectare Bulalacao marine protected area (MPA) in Coron that Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) helped establish in 2014 was awarded on December 10, 2020 Best Community-Managed MPA at the first Palawan MPAs Empowered through Awards and Recognition to Enrich Marine Life (PEARL) awards of the Palawan provincial government.

Following the devastations wrought by typhoons Quinta and Rolly that passed through central Philippines on October 26, 2020 (Quinta) and November 1, 2020 (Rolly), Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) provided rehabilitation support to its partner conservation communities in Oriental Mindoro and Batangas City.

Following El Nido and Taytay, the next batch of juvenile native Tridacna gigas giant clams numbering 500 were deployed to effectively-managed marine protected areas (MPAs) in Linapacan and Coron as part of the marine species re-stocking component (String-of-Pearls project) of Malampaya Foundation Inc.’s (MFI) marine biodiversity conservation program.

North Palawan — More than a year after the historic first in-situ spawning of the Philippines’ true Tridacna gigas in June 2019, the first batch of baby giant clams measuring 1.2-2.7-inches were finally restocked in north Palawan waters in marine management zones in Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape (MSPLS) and the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area (ENTMRPA) in north Palawan.

After several months’ training hiatus due to Covid lockdowns, vocational industrial skills trainings resume adopting to ‘new normal’ to help members of neighboring communities become employable in the economic recession resulting from the community quarantine measures imposed by government.

Observing health protocols due to Covid, Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) has resumed various community-based skills trainings that generate employment and self-employment opportunities for its partner communities.

Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) partner communities in marine biodiversity conservation program continue conservation work such as mangrove and beach-forest planting for reforestation of denuded areas, and crown-of-thorns extraction to prevent further destruction on corals.

Batangas City — Malampaya Foundation Inc.’s (MFI) native tree nursery at Barangay Cuta, Batangas City has been named “Punlang Katutubo”, a name reflective of the indigenous and endemic Philippine trees it has committed to produce as part of its biodiversity conservation goals.

Batangas City — The city council of Batangas finally legislated the expansion on June 29, 2020 of the Pulong Bato marine protected area (MPA) located at Barangay San Agapito of Isla Verde from 14 to 539 hectares. Resolution 163 S. 2020 was unanimously approved to amend ordinance # 13 S. 2002 which declared the area as a fishery refuge and sanctuary in 2002.

Support to active members of coastal communities' conservation organizations were provided to help mitigate impacts of COVID lockdowns especially with the abatement of livelihoods and economic activities. Food packages consisting of rice and fresh produce were recently released in partner communities in Palawan and Oriental Mindoro whose marine protected areas (MPAs) have been recognized in recent years as among effectively and best-managed in the country and provinces.

In the coasts of Northern Palawan, Oriental Mindoro and Batangas City, where Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) forged community-based marine biodiversity conservation partnerships, volunteer deputized bantay dagat enforcers and National Protected Area park rangers continue their difficult enforcement duties to protect natural coastal resources amidst the enhanced community quarantine in the locations due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Three (3) conservation incentives were turned-over yesterday, February 18, 2020, in the municipalities of Pola and Pinamalayan as part of Malampaya Foundation Inc.’s (MFI’s) conservation agreement (CA) commitments with the coastal barangays of the province.

Batangas City — After Taal volcano’s initial phreatic eruption on January 12, 2020, evacuees arrived in droves into different evacuation centers in Batangas City, many with nothing but the clothes they had on in the haste of escaping nature’s fury.

Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro — Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) conducted yet another relief drive for areas hit by typhoon Ursula which struck southern Mindoro on Christmas day 2019.

Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) conducted relief drive for several areas hit by typhoon Urusula in early December passing Batangas City, Oriental Mindoro and Romblon.

El Nido, Palawan — Two conservation agreements (CAs) were renewed in El Nido yesterday, December 19, 2019, between Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI), the municipal and barangay local governments and several community associations for marine biodiversity conservation partnerships covering barangays San Fernando and Teneguiban.

Conservation incentives for national park rangers of El Nido and Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape, bantay dagats in North Palawan and Oriental Mindoro coastal communities were released by Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) as part of its conservation partnership commitment in the different areas.

Calapan, Oriental Mindoro — Seven (7) conservation agreements (CAs) covering five (5) municipalities were renewed yesterday, November 26, 2019, between Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) and partners in Oriental Mindoro for marine biodiversity conservation-coastal resource management program adopting grassroots approach and conservation actions covering select northernmost to the southernmost municipalities of the province such as Puerto Galera, Baco, Pinamalayan, Gloria and Bulalacao.

Puerto Princesa, Philippines — The second (2nd) in-situ spawning of the true native Philippine Tridacna gigas yielded approximately 4.6 million trochophores on November 12, 2019 as the team led by Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) trooped to Ulugan Bay in Puerto Princesa, Palawan for the activity.

Batangas City, Batangas — More than one hundred forty (140) vocational scholars of Malampaya Foundation Inc.’s (MFI’s) Bridging Employment through Skills Training (BEST) program received their certifications yesterday during the graduation ceremony attended by executives from Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Shell Philippines Exploration, Batangas City local government and community leaders.

Quezon City, Philippines — Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) partner conservation site Barangay Ranzo, Pinamalayan in Oriental Mindoro landed third (3rd) place at the 2019 PARA EL MAR AWARDS, the most prestigious marine protected area (MPA) management awards in the Philippines run by MPA Support Network, U.P. Marine Science Institute, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

Coron, Palawan — Partnership agreement with the tourism establishments around Bulalacao, Coron was signed yesterday October 14, 2019, to progress involvement of the tourism sector in marine protected area (MPA) management and protection.

Coron, Palawan — Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) renewed today its conservation agreement for the management and protection of the marine protected area (MPA) at Marcilla, Coron with its partners; Samahang Katutubong Tagbanua ng Barangay Marcilla, Barangay Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council, Marcilla Seaweeds Growers Association, Coron local government and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (RO IV).

Taytay, Palawan — Re-stocking of native giant clams species started yesterday at a core management zone of the outer Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape (MSPLS), in hopes of reviving and increasing abundance of the over-extracted clam species in the area.

Baco, Oriental Mindoro - The municipality and communities of Baco on July 30, 2015 celebrated together with the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro (PGOM) and Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) the launch of a new marine protected area (MPA) with an expanse of 153 hectares composed largely of mangrove forests.

Youth camps were held in various conservation areas of Malampaya Foundation Inc. in El Nido and Taytay, Palawan to impart, among others, the value of ecosystems found in the communities. It also educates the young about international and local laws, and proper protection and conservation of the natural resources.

Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro — The twelfth marine protected area (MPA) station built by Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) with local government and community partners was turned-over and inaugurated yesterday, June 18, 2019, with Puerto Galera mayor Rocky Ilagan and MFI chairman Rufino Bomasang leading the ceremony.

Puerto Princesa, Palawan — The first ever in-situ spawning of the Palawan native species of the biggest giant clam, Tridacna gigas, was commenced by Malampaya Foundation (MFI) and partners to help increase its declining population, Saturday, at WPU Hatchery in Binduyan, Puerto Princesa City.

Coron, Palawan — Fishers, marine protected area (MPA) community managers and local government alike are celebrating the sightings of endangered wildlife that have been absent for more than half a decade in Coron, until recently.

Oriental Mindoro — Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) recently turned over to conservation partner communities Bgy. Ilag in San Teodoro (February 21, 2019) and Bgy. Agsalin in Gloria (March 13, 2019) eco-tourism enterprise infrastructures built through community-based trainings in carpentry and masonry.

Linapacan, Palawan — Non-government organizations, coastal communities, dive tour and expedition operators, resort owners, local goverments and private individuals with common concern and love for the ocean came together to volunteer time and contribute resources with Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) to combat Crown-of-thorns (COTs) infestation in the reefs of Linapacan, Palawan.

The year 2018 saw continuing growth in our programs’ impact, with several triumphs achieved, big and small.

Oriental Mindoro — The 2018 to 2019 seasonal closure in Oriental Mindoro, the second cycle since its launch in November 2017, was a huge success with seventy five (75%) percent of coastal municipalities having reported increased abundance of juveniles during and after the seasonal closure.

Calapan, Oriental Mindoro — Six (6) conservation agreements were renewed yesterday, February 21, 2019 as part of Malampaya Foundation Inc.’s (MFI) Verde Island Passage (VIP) Conservation program in partnership with the Provincial government of Oriental Mindoro, various barangay and local governments and people’s organizations.

El Nido, Palawan — Park rangers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Protected Area Office (DENR-PAO) assigned at the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Area (ENTMRPA) were given certificates of entitlement for conservation incentives from Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) during a visit of Shell Philippines Exploration’s leadership team on February 13, 2019.

Coron, Palawan — Barangay Lajala public elementary school’s Tanglaw Paaralan package was given an upgrade with the turn-over yesterday of a new knowledge channel system with a sky-direct satellite dish for automated updating of K-12 educational content.

Active Bantay Dagats (sea rangers) of the municipalities of Coron, El Nido and Linapacan received their incentive from Malampaya Foundation (MFI) for their selfless dedication in guarding marine protected areas (MPA) as volunteers of the community.

Puerto Princesa, Palawan — Park rangers of the Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape (MSPLS) were awarded support for their patrolling duties yesterday, December 11, 2018, at the annual Paskuhan sa Palawan celebration of the Malampaya joint venture partners.

Puerto Princesa, Palawan — Twenty seven (27) Bridging Employment through Skills Training (BEST) program scholars of Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) graduated at the annual Paskuhan sa Palawan celebration of Malampaya in Puerto Princesa.