12 September 2023, Manila, Philippines — Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) partner conservation sites received multiple citations from the USAID Fish Right Program and the Calamianes Group of Islands MPA Network (CMN). The awardees accepted the recognitions during the 2023 USAID Recognition Awards for Calamianes Group of Islands Enhanced Ecosystem (RACE), affirming their effective management of marine protected areas (MPA) in Palawan..
MFI’s partner site Barangay Bulalacao won 1st place for Best IP-Managed MPA, and 2nd place for Best Managed MPA. Barangay Marcilla won 1st place as Best Iniative MPA.The municipality of Linapacan won 2nd and 3rd Best Initiative MPA for barangays Pical and Decabaitot, respectively, while barangay San Miguel won 3rd BestManaged MPA.
USAID RACE recognizes the best-managed MPAs at the marine key biodiversity area municipal level to promote best practices among MPA managers. MPAs are shortlisted based on the documents submitted by the local government units or the MPA Management Councils, followed by extensive field validations. MPA management effectiveness ratings are finalized based on the results of field evaluations that are used to rank the sites and winners.
Aside from Coron and Linapacan, the Calamianes Group of Islands also includes Busuanga and Culion. These municipalities all have MPAs where CMN helps in meeting the targets set by the Convention on Biological Diversity, which includes protecting at least 30% of land and sea by year 2030.
Since 2013, MFI has been forging conservation agreements with communities, local government units and national agencies for implementation of grassroots-based interventions to establish, expand and improve management of MPAs by communities, among others. Aside from these, MFI also provides livelihood, social mobilization, enforcement strengthening and rehabilitation of ecosystems within these areas.
Prior to this year’s RACE Awards, MFI’s conservation partner sites in Coron and Linapacan have been consistently receiving recognition from the same body in 2017, 2019 and 2021. Awarding ceremonies for this year was held in Coron with Mayor Virginia De Vera of Culion, Mayor Elizabeth Cervantes of Busuanga and Mayor Emil Neri of Linapacan in attendance.
The social arm of the Malampaya Joint Venture Partners composed of Prime Energy Resources Development B.V., UC38 LLC and the PNOC-Exploration Corp., MFI implements marine conservation and social development programs in Malampaya’s areas of operation.
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