In celebration of its 15th year, Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) awarded the Top 15 community conservation partner organizations, Top 15 Bantay Dagat teams and Top 15 Long-Service in conservation enforcement individuals out of its 31 conservation sites located in north Palawan, Oriental Mindoro and Batangas City.
The awarding was highlighted by an online Zoom awarding with MFI’s Board of Trustees yesterday, December 15, 2020, alongside actual on-site awarding of cash prizes by MFI focal staffs.
The 31 sites signed conservation agreements at various timeframes with MFI starting 2013 with the aim of improving and upgrading coastal resource management as part of a marine biodiversity conservation program which aims to regenerate communities’ marine ecosystems and biological productivity. Specific conservation actions fall under four (4) major components such as Social Mobilization and Advocacy, Socio-Economic Improvement (of fisherfolk families), Regular Ecological Assessments and Ecological Rehabilitation.
MFI and its various partners from local governments, national government agencies and community-based organizations have since established over 330,000-hectare new marine protected areas (MPAs), marine management zones within NIPAS sites and fisheries management areas by end-2020. Management effectiveness of MPAs have improved by more than 85% with 15 sites having been duly recognized with external accolades as best-managed MPAs in the various regions and nationwide.
