Driving Conservation Forward: How SLSU Bontoc helped in shaping the Panaon Island Protected Seascape (PIPS) Management Plan
The SLSU Bontoc Campus through its sustained partnership with Oceana International Philippines, a leading NGO dedicated to protecting and restoring the world’s oceans, alongside the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 8, the Provincial Government of Southern Leyte and the four Local Government Units within Panaon, recently conducted a series of management plan workshops across the municipalities of Panaon Island. These workshops are part of a broader initiative to develop a comprehensive management plan aimed at preserving and enhancing the marine life ecosystem in Panaon Island.
Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Oceana Philippines’ Vice President, expressed during the inception workshop, “Panaon is part of the 50 priority reefs identified by the Bloomberg Oceans Initiative and is recommended as a priority area of the Government for conservation to meet its 30 by 30 conservation targets.”
Through collective efforts, SLSU Bontoc and partners successfully convened a total of 223 representatives from local stakeholders, experts, and community members to discuss strategies and gather input for the Panaon Island Management Plan. The workshop series, held across various municipalities in Panaon Island, attracted significant participation: 65 from Liloan, 48 from San Ricardo, 60 from Pintuyan, and 50 from San Francisco. These sessions provided a platform for diverse voices to contribute to the development of a comprehensive management plan for the island.
Key outcomes included the integration of situational analysis which focused on resource mapping, land and resource usage, potential threats, and existing facilities. The data collected during these workshop series serve as the foundation for crafting the vision, mission, goals, and objectives of the management plan. By thoroughly understanding the current landscape and marine life challenges of the island, the stakeholders were encouraged to contribute insights that will shape the strategic direction of the plan, ensuring to effectively address the island’s unique needs and conservation goals.
Oceana’s team, led by Senior Director and Legal Policy expert Atty. Rose Liza Osorio, played a crucial role in the recent workshop as she highlighted the rationale of the activity, emphasizing the importance of protecting Panaon Island. “Oceana has been actively working, with strong support from the national and local stakeholders, to safeguard the Panaon Island. Once the management plan is approved, we can establish the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), which will act as a policy-making body to address the island’s goals and challenges ahead,” Atty. Osorio said.
Atty. Nikka Oquias, Oceana’s MPA Campaign Lead, guided the stakeholders in crafting the objectives, and target outputs expected for the management planning workshop. Meanwhile, Mr. Diovanie De Jesus, Oceana's lead facilitator managed the identification of the potential management zones, laying the groundwork for more targeted conservation efforts, along with Ms. Mary Jane Honor, Senior EMS of DENR CENRO San Juan Region discussed the highlights of the results of the Biophysical Assessment, Socio-Economic Survey and the Protected Area Suitability Assessment for Panaon Island and the PASA Form II Key Informant Interviews.
The SLSU Bontoc Campus team, led by the Campus Director, Gladys L. Pascual, alongside faculty and staff who are experts in their respective fields served as lead facilitators during the data-gathering process. The team members are Associate Professor and Head for In-House Research, Innovations, and Extension Services (RIES) Ms Janine C. Dimzon, Associate Professor and College Dean Mr. Jimmy E. Salamida, Associate Professor and BS Marine Biology Program Chair Ms. Alieza O. Del Socorro, BS Fisheries Program Chair Ms. Angelica E. Gerong, Resident Dive Master Mr. Ryan P. Tomol, RIES-Main Research Specialist Mr. Jerome O. Napala, Multi-media Officer Ms Maria Fe Novere E. Amor, and staff members Ms. Shanette Joy Vivien C. Amador, Ms Jovie Marie P. Alfante and RIES Science Research Assistants Ms. Josephine Moso and Ms. Annielou Bonghanoy.
“As a leading marine biology and fishery campus here in the region, it is our core mandate to promote, protect, and conserve our oceans. Our sustained partnership with Oceana, the largest international advocacy organization focused solely on ocean conservation, reinforced SLSU-Bontoc’s visibility within the region and enabled the campus to multiply its initiatives, particularly those aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goal Life Below Water (SDG 14)” Campus Director, Prof. Pascual expressed.
This partnership not only aligns with the core values of SLSU Bontoc Campus but also strengthens the collective efforts to ensure a healthier, more vibrant marine environment for future generations.
The Department of Tourism (Region 8), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (Region 8), and the Provincial Government of Southern Leyte, the latter under the leadership of Governor Damian Mercado, expressed their full support in the declaration of Panaon Island as Protected Seascape.
