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Haribon Palawan Reports on Progress from Puerto Princesa-based Marine Corridor Project

Posted on August 15, 2014

Puerto Princesa City-based marine biodiversity conservation project, “Marine Corridor Network Building towards Sustainable Management of Coastal Resources in the West Philippine Sea” has been making notable progress in its implementation as it enters the second half of its duration. This was illustrated in its 2nd Quarter Report, which covers the period of February to June 2014 and marks the project’s mid-term point.

The large, site-focused project, initiated and carried out by Haribon Palawan with backing by the Foundation for the Philippine Environment, has been running since October 2013 and is slated for completion in November 2014.

Focusing on the four (4) main bays of Puerto Princesa City, the marine corridor project involves community-based initiatives dealing in biodiversity and ecosystem profiling, as well as PO-strengthening efforts to establish a capable local community network that can sustain conservation endeavors in the area for the long term.

According to the report, the second quarter of project implementation saw the execution of a “series of participatory coastal resource assessment trainings and actual habitat assessment in layman’s terms.” These activities were conducted in Martapi Reef and involved the efforts of the fisherfolk communities in Barangays Cabayugan (Sitio Mantoron and SItio Sugod) and New Panggangan (Sitio Poblacion).

Also continued during the second quarter implementation was actual data gathering on macro invertebrates, coral benthic communities, and reef fish assemblages in the reef.

Highlights of the resource assessment findings in Martapi Reef, conducted in late May 2014, include:

Reports of poor to fair benthic communities, particularly 25.98% of live hard coral cover in fair condition, amid 35.33% dead corals, 34.83% abiotic component, 1.33% algae, and 2.53% other fauna.

A total of seven (7) species of macro-invertebrates, belonging to four (4) families and two (2) phyla, in soft bottom communities identified. Species of lobster (family Nephropidae) and squid were also observed.

Fish species diversity totaling 50 species, representing 24 families recorded in Saint Paul Bay. Overall, fish abundance totaled to 3,213 individuals during the conduct of the survey.

The report notes that as of the mid-term, the ecosystem profiling and resource assessment component of the project now stands at 70% completion, “including ecosystems profile report preparation per Bay.”

Meanwhile, the project’s PO strengthening activities have helped establish clear organizational structures and aided planning initiatives by providing a framework for assigning roles among livelihood managers, data recorders, and resource managers.

Among the POs that the Haribon Palawan project engages are the New Panggangan Fisherfolk Association, the Tribal Council of Barangay Cabayugan, and the Makirawa Marine Protected Area Fishermen.

Networking efforts with other agencies have also commenced, identifying a need to link the local fisherfolk communities with the City Government for more substantial support.

More detailed findings can be read in the full report, which you may download here.