Calapan, Oriental Mindoro — Seven (7) conservation agreements (CAs) covering five (5) municipalities were renewed yesterday, November 26, 2019, between Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) and partners in Oriental Mindoro for marine biodiversity conservation-coastal resource management program adopting grassroots approach and conservation actions covering select northernmost to the southernmost municipalities of the province such as Puerto Galera, Baco, Pinamalayan, Gloria and Bulalacao.
The CA’s are instrumental in the partnership for conservation work since 2013 which has resulted in the evident recovery of marine ecosystem in the concerned coastal sites manifested through increasing fish abundance, hard coral cover and return of long-absent species such as dolphins and sharks. Originally signed in 2013, it is signed by the provincial agriculture office, municipal and barangay local governments, a community organizations and MFI.
Two (2) sites covered by the CA’s have been recently awarded in the MPA national awards Para El Mar: 1st place for Agsalin Fish Sanctuary in Gloria in 2017 and 3rd place for Ranzo Fish Sanctuary in Pinamalayan in 2019. Para El Mar is a collaboration between U.P. Marine Science Institute, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and some environment conservation-focused non-government organizations.
