Pioneering partnership agreement with tourism sector for MPA management signed

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.

The 3,400-hectare Bulalacao MPA, established in 2014, was heavily-damaged from decades of dynamite and poison fishing methods. In 2018, after only 4-5 years of effective management, increase in fish abundance has been observed, along with return of long-absent endangered species such as napoleon wrasse and black-tip sharks. The initial outcomes was a result of the initial partnership in 2012 and 2015 between the barangay, the Bulalacao indigenous peoples group, the Coron local government, Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI), NCIP, BFAR, PCG, DENR, DOE and the PNP-maritime.

The newly-signed agreement included Two Seasons, Waling-waling, Malcapuya Island resort, Coco beach resort, Ditaytayan Island resort and Banana Island resort, and Hekari pearl farm for heeding the call to help protect the area's biodiversity with strengthened protection and enforcement.