Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro — Community-based people’s organisation Samahan ng Pangkabuhayan ng mga Taga Dulangan (SPTD), one of the conservation partners of Malampaya Foundation (MFI) in Puerto Galera, continues to pay it forward and share its benefits with other community members through a Balik Tangkilik or return service initiative.
Balik Tangkilik is a requirement of MFI with its conservation partner groups who have made sufficient net profits from green enterprises established as component to its marine biodiversity conservation program, in a bid to share a portion of the benefits with the wider community.
SPTD signed a conservation agreement (CA) with MFI in late 2013, together with the bgy and municipal governments for the implementation of the Verde Island Passage marine conservation program in the locality. The partnership has since produced, among others, a 17-hectare marine protected area (MPA) comprised largely of mangroves with some seagrass and reef areas. A mangrove walkway infrastructure was established as tourism and educational facility that SPTD operates together with another organisation.
SPTD’s first Balik Tangkilik activity in June 2016 involved the provision of school supplies to schoolchildren in the barangay. On March 2, 2017, grocery packs worth over P500 were given by the organisation to tricycle drivers that ferried tourists to the mangrove walkway on a regular basis.
The CA with SPTD and Puerto Galera local government was renewed in November 2016. SPTD likewise operates a kayak-and-swim-gears rental enterprise grant from MFI at Dulangan beach, in return for managing the MPA, undertaking reforestation and clean-up activities.
