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.
The partnership between MFI, the Marcilla barangay local government, Coron municipal local government (through the Municipal Agriculture Office), the indigenous people’s tribal group of Marcilla, the National Commission of Indigenous People regional office IV and other community people’s organization was originally signed in 2016.
Since the establishment of the MPA and partnership formation in 2016, the Marcilla MPA has been awarded multiple times as follows:
• 2017- 1st place Best-Emerging MPA (USAID RACE Awards)
• 2019- 1st place Best-Emerging MPA (USAID RACE Awards)
• 2021- 1st place Best-Initiative MPA (USAID RACE Awards)
MFI’s conservation support includes social mobilization and advocacy, policy formation, enforcement enhancement, socio-economic improvement for livelihoods support, MPA establishment and management improvement, rehabilitation and restocking of important marine species, reforestation of coastal zones, maintenance of MPA bouys and markers, information and education campaigns and capacity-building.
Other agencies that have supported the Marcilla MPA are the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippine Coast Guard and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development.
