PRDP GEF Support

Department of Agriculture

Philippine Rural Development Project

GEF NRM Support

The Global Environment Objective (GEO) of PRDP’s GEF supported interventions is to strengthen the conservation of the coastal and marine resource base in targeted project areas through: 1) enhancing institutional and planning capacities of local government units and communities; 2) providing support to marine protected areas with global biodiversity significance and select fishery co-management arrangements; and 3) sharing knowledge and best practices. These are currently being carried out to thirty-three (33) Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in six (6) regions of Luzon B and Visayas.

PRDP GEF Support Site Profiles

Thriving Acropora sp inside Bahurang Silag MPA

Tayabas Bay, Municipality of Agdangan

Tayabas Bay is an important body of water stretching from the Batangas coastline up to the edge of the Bondoc Peninsula in southeastern Quezon. Including the island province of Marinduque, Tayabas Bay covers a total of 16 municipalities. It is considered one of the most productive fishing grounds in the Philippines but due to decades of fishing activities and continuous coastal development, fishing supply and natural habitats have also been threatened or has declined. Mackerel, sardinella and jacks are primarily caught here. Peak season for fishing is from October to May, during the northeast monsoon (Amihan). Aside from its fisheries, Tayabas Bay is home to three types of endangered species of marine turtles, the hawksbill turtle, the green sea turtle and the Olive-ridley turtle. Rehabilitating the Bahurang Silag Marine Protected Area in Agdangan, Quezon, to protect these species and other resources is among the objectives of PRDP GEF support interventions in South Luzon. -CTN

For a virtual underwater tour inside Bahurang Silag MPA, please click this link: Bahurang Silag MPA UW Biophysical REA 2020

Green Island Bay, Municipality of Roxas,Palawan Province

Green Island Bay, Municipality of Roxas

Green Island Bay in the east coast of Palawan Island, is an important conservation area given the various coastal and fishery resources that can be found in these waters. The seascape covers the entire coast of the municipality of Roxas. Here, sightings/presence of various endangered species such as the dugongs, several species of marine turtles (loggerhead, hawksbill and green), giant clams, the rare Humphead wrasse, white-spotted guitarfish and leopard sharks have been recorded, hence, the need for robust biodiversity protection.

Seven (7) MPAs within Green Island Bay covered by PRDP GEF are located in barangays of Johnson Island, Caramay, Malcampo, San Miguel, Tumarbong, Tinitian and Rizal. Management of these thriving coastal resources are being spearheaded by the Municipal LGU of Roxas, with support from the above-mentioned barangay local governments. -CTN

For a virtual underwater tour inside Johnson Island MPA, please click this link.

Ticao Pass, Municipality of San Fernando,Masbate Province

Ticao Pass, Municipality of San Fernando

Ticao Pass, Masbate forms part of Ticao Pass that falls in the jurisdiction of the province of Masbate. Ticao Pass is a strait that takes its name from Ticao Island, which is strategically located between the contiguous Bicol peninsula and the greater Masbate Island. Manta Bowl, an underwater seamount that serves as cleaning station for oceanic manta rays can be found here, attracting hundreds of divers from around the world every year. Whalesharks are also regular occurrences in Manta Bowl. The conservation of San Fernando Fish Sanctuary in San Fernando, Masbate will contribute in the protection of these charismatic but vulnerable elasmobranches. -CTN

For a virtual underwater tour inside San Fernando Marine Reserve and Fish Sanctuary, please click this link.

Ticao Pass, Sorsogon Province

Ticao Pass, Province of Sorsogon

Ticao Pass, Sorsogon is also a significant fishing ground supporting commercial fisheries, small-scale fisheries and nature-based tourism in the provinces of Sorsogon, Masbate and Albay. It is the largest protected area in the Bicol Region and is a known site for large aggregations of globally protected species of large marine vertebrates whalesharks, hammerhead sharks and manta rays. Sardines, a commercially important pelagic fish to the Filipino diet, can also be found here en masse. Out of the 6 municipalities in Sorsogon whose waters form Ticao Pass, four (4) Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in four (4) municipalities are supported by the GEF project. These MPAs are Butag Bay Fish Sanctuary, Pilar Marine Reserve, Magallanes Fish Sanctuary and Matnog Marine Reserve. Rehabilitation of these MPAs to improve fish stocks and improve ecosystem health will ensure sustainability of fisheries and eco-tourism in the Bicol region in the long run. -CTN

For a virtual underwater tour inside Matnog Marine Reserve (MR), please click this link.

Guimaras Strait, Guimaras Province

Guimaras Strait, Province of Guimaras

Guimaras Strait is another major fishing ground in the country where rapid coastal development, anthropogenic activities and overexploitation has led to diminishing supply of marine resources. It is a strait located between Panay Island and Negros Island and takes its name from Guimaras province, which is located smack in the middle. Blue crabs, bivalves, cephalopods, reef fishes, pelagic fishes and macroalgae seaweed are abundant here. These marine-based resources serve as a major component of the diet of coastal and urban communities in the Negros Occidental, Iloilo and Guimaras provinces. Globally protected species are also present, notably the hawksbill marine turtle, the green marine turtle, dugong, the Whitefin tope shark and the critically endangered, Irrawaddy dolphin. Guimaras also have extensive mangrove areas protecting the coastline and serves as habitat for many species of animals. Pamanculan Fish Sanctuary in Sibunag, Lawi Marine Reserve in Jordan, Toyo Reef Fish Sanctuary in Nueva Valencia and Tumalintinan Point Fish Sanctuary in San Lorenzo are four (4) MPAs from that have been chosen for support and rehabilitation to help restore fish stocks and health of the habitats. -CTN

For a virtual underwater tour inside Toyo Reef Fish Sanctuary, please click this link.

Danajon Bank, Bohol Province

Danajon Bank, Province of Bohol

Danajon Bank, located in the Central Visayas region, is a double barrier reef, the few of its kind in the world. It has a total area of 27,200 hectares encompassing the islands of Cebu, Bohol and Leyte. It is a unique underwater mass that is home to different species of reef fishes, corals, mangroves, seagrass, molluscs, macroalgae and marine invertebrates, sustaining the livelihood and food requirements of thousands of people living in island communities and coasts.

Protection of Danajon Bank has long been considered of critical importance because of the expansive habitats and high diversity of animal species found in its waters and coasts. Humphead wrasse, barramundi cod and different species of seahorse are among high value animals that are found here. Harvesting of the latter for medicinal, curio and aquarium trade has been especially prevalent in Danajon Bank prompting authorities and non-government actors to implement large-scale coastal resource management projects in the past. Aguining and Sidlakan Marine Sanctuaries in Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Asinan Fish Sanctuary in Buenavista, Bilang-Bilangan East and Hingotanan West Marine Sanctuaries in Bien Unido, Cataban and Guindacpan Marine Sanctuaries in Talibon and Sinandigan Marine Sanctuary in Ubay town are being rehabilitated under the GEF subproject to restore Danajon Bank’s valuable marine resources. -CTN

For a virtual underwater tour inside Bilang-Bilangan East Marine Sanctuary, please click this link.

Guiuan Coast, Eastern Samar Province

Guiuan Coast, Province of Eastern Samar

Guiuan Coast forms part of the Leyte Gulf and is the site of several notable events that have shaped the history of the country– the first landing of Europeans in 1521, the defeat of the Japanese during WWII in 1945 and the first landfall of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. What’s often understated is that the Guiuan Coast also hosts rich and diverse marine ecosystems, sustaining the population for generations. The municipality of Guiuan itself is a declared protected seascape under the NIPAS law. Expansive mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass beds can be found in the Guiuan Coast, extending from the municipality of Lawa-an all the way to the far-flung islands of Guiuan town. Various species of reef fish, crustaceans and invertebrates such as sea cucumbers and clams are the major fishery produce while occasional presence of hawksbill, leatherback and green marine turtles have been recorded. There are eight (8) Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in five (5) municipalities covered by the GEF project, namely Bolusao and Can-usod Fish Sanctuaries in Lawa-an, Canigaran Fish Sanctuary in Mercedes, Lupakon-Bilang Bilang Reefs and Manapag Reef in Guiuan, Minonbonan Reef and Binabasalan Is. Marine Sanctuaries in Salcedo and Panaloytoyon Reef in Quinapondan. Like many reefs and fishing areas, Eastern Samar’s resource have undergone decline over time but recovery is possible when goals are met with action. -CTN

For a virtual underwater tour inside Lupakon and Bilangbilang Reefs, Municipality of Guiuan, Province of Eastern Samar, please click this link.

Guiuan Coast, Eastern Samar MPA Network: Alliance of the 7 Coastal Municipalities for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (A7 for ICZM)

PRDP GEF support to the strengthening of the A7 for ICZM mainly pivots on formulation of strategic actions and management plans. Due to the ongoing pandemic, scheduled follow through planning writeshops and workshops were postponed in 2020 and will hopefully will be realized in the 2nd Quarter of 2021, in partnership with the Guiuan Development Foundation Incorporated (GDFI).

Initiatives from network creation, establishment, planning and formalization of the A7 have been facilitated by the GDFI with the Local Government Units along the Guiuan Coast, namely: Balangiga, Giporlos, Mercedes, Lawaan, Salcedo, Quinapodan, and Guiuan.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse