Despite Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) and Western Philippines University (WPU) being unable to conduct in-situ spawning for the Philippines’ true native Tridacna gigas the whole year due to the Covid lockdowns and travel restrictions.

Western Philippines University (WPU) and Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) recently launched Adopt-A-Shell, a fundraising scheme to help bring back endangered and threatened shell species to reefs in core zones of effectively-managed marine protected areas.

In celebration of its 15th year, Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) awarded the Top 15 community conservation partner organizations.

Puerto Princesa, Palawan - The 3,468-hectare Bulalacao marine protected area (MPA) in Coron that Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) helped establish in 2014 was awarded on December 10, 2020 Best Community-Managed MPA at the first Palawan MPAs Empowered through Awards and Recognition to Enrich Marine Life (PEARL) awards of the Palawan provincial government.

Following the devastations wrought by typhoons Quinta and Rolly that passed through central Philippines on October 26, 2020 (Quinta) and November 1, 2020 (Rolly), Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) provided rehabilitation support to its partner conservation communities in Oriental Mindoro and Batangas City.

Following El Nido and Taytay, the next batch of juvenile native Tridacna gigas giant clams numbering 500 were deployed to effectively-managed marine protected areas (MPAs) in Linapacan and Coron as part of the marine species re-stocking component (String-of-Pearls project) of Malampaya Foundation Inc.’s (MFI) marine biodiversity conservation program.

North Palawan — More than a year after the historic first in-situ spawning of the Philippines’ true Tridacna gigas in June 2019, the first batch of baby giant clams measuring 1.2-2.7-inches were finally restocked in north Palawan waters in marine management zones in Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape (MSPLS) and the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area (ENTMRPA) in north Palawan.

After several months’ training hiatus due to Covid lockdowns, vocational industrial skills trainings resume adopting to ‘new normal’ to help members of neighboring communities become employable in the economic recession resulting from the community quarantine measures imposed by government.

Observing health protocols due to Covid, Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) has resumed various community-based skills trainings that generate employment and self-employment opportunities for its partner communities.

Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) partner communities in marine biodiversity conservation program continue conservation work such as mangrove and beach-forest planting for reforestation of denuded areas, and crown-of-thorns extraction to prevent further destruction on corals.

Batangas City — Malampaya Foundation Inc.’s (MFI) native tree nursery at Barangay Cuta, Batangas City has been named “Punlang Katutubo”, a name reflective of the indigenous and endemic Philippine trees it has committed to produce as part of its biodiversity conservation goals.

Batangas City — The city council of Batangas finally legislated the expansion on June 29, 2020 of the Pulong Bato marine protected area (MPA) located at Barangay San Agapito of Isla Verde from 14 to 539 hectares. Resolution 163 S. 2020 was unanimously approved to amend ordinance # 13 S. 2002 which declared the area as a fishery refuge and sanctuary in 2002.

Support to active members of coastal communities' conservation organizations were provided to help mitigate impacts of COVID lockdowns especially with the abatement of livelihoods and economic activities. Food packages consisting of rice and fresh produce were recently released in partner communities in Palawan and Oriental Mindoro whose marine protected areas (MPAs) have been recognized in recent years as among effectively and best-managed in the country and provinces.

In the coasts of Northern Palawan, Oriental Mindoro and Batangas City, where Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) forged community-based marine biodiversity conservation partnerships, volunteer deputized bantay dagat enforcers and National Protected Area park rangers continue their difficult enforcement duties to protect natural coastal resources amidst the enhanced community quarantine in the locations due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Three (3) conservation incentives were turned-over yesterday, February 18, 2020, in the municipalities of Pola and Pinamalayan as part of Malampaya Foundation Inc.’s (MFI’s) conservation agreement (CA) commitments with the coastal barangays of the province.

Batangas City — After Taal volcano’s initial phreatic eruption on January 12, 2020, evacuees arrived in droves into different evacuation centers in Batangas City, many with nothing but the clothes they had on in the haste of escaping nature’s fury.

Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro — Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) conducted yet another relief drive for areas hit by typhoon Ursula which struck southern Mindoro on Christmas day 2019.