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.
The CAs were first signed in the years 2014-2016, making the latest signing its 2nd or renewal. Since 2014, two (2) of the conservation partner communities have placed in the national Para El Mar awards for Best-Managed marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Philippines: Agsalin Fish Sanctuary (Gloria municipality) placed first in 2017 and Ranzo Fish Sanctuary (Banilad municipality) placed third in 2019. In 2021, St. John the Baptist fish sanctuary in Pola municipality also landed in the top 10.
At the 2021 provincial STAR (Sustaining MPAs Through Awards and Recognitions) awards, MFI’s partner conservation sites swept nine (9) out of the top 10 Best-Managed MPAs in Oriental Mindoro.
