Conservation Agreement for Culion signed

Culion, Palawan - Partners in the municipality of Culion, Palawan signed the conservation agreement (CA) with Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) on May 5, 2017, formalising previous efforts undertaken for the protection and management of select coastal-marine sites in the area.

Signatories to the CA are Culion mayor Virginia De Vera, Barangay Libis chairman Pablo Mayora, Nagkakaisang Samahan ng mga Mangingisdang Nagmamalsakit sa Likas Yaman ng Bgy Libis organization president Nicanor Pide and MFI executive director Karen Agabin.

Conservation focus of the parties is barangay Libis and the marine protected area (MPA) within its jurisdiction—the Bugor MPA, which was previously a highly-rated MPA has suffered from loss of hard coral cover from 2014-2016 and increase in nutrient indicator algae due to lack of appropriate management and protection, in addition to natural disasters that passed the area.