Ryan Tomol Represents SLSU-Bontoc in National Coastal Monitoring Training
Mr. Ryan Tomol, representing Southern Leyte State University – Bontoc Campus (SLSU-Bontoc), joined participants from across the country in a five-day Capacity Building Activity on Citizen Science Tools for Monitoring Coastal Ecosystems conducted by the Marine Environment and Resources Foundation (MERF) on June 23–27, 2025, at the Br. Alfred Shields FSC Marine Station (BrAMS) in Lian, Batangas.
The activity is part of the Philippines 30x30 Project, which supports the country’s commitment to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and its goal of protecting 30% of the planet’s land and sea areas by 2030. The project is implemented by MERF and its consortium partners, in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
As Resident Divemaster of SLSU Bontoc, Mr. Tomol’s participation was particularly significant. His background in dive safety, underwater navigation, and marine life observation allowed him to fully engage in the technical field components of the training, including coral reef assessments and underwater monitoring.
“The training aimed to strengthen the management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by equipping MPA managers and local monitoring teams with citizen science tools for coastal ecosystem monitoring,” Tomol shared.
The training covered the application of key citizen science tools such as ALWAN for coral reef assessment, MPA-FishMApp for reef fish monitoring, and standardized protocols for evaluating mangrove and seagrass ecosystems. Participants also explored how to incorporate these methods into their Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plans, enabling more informed, data-driven approaches to community-based MPA management. The activity combined classroom instruction with hands-on fieldwork, including underwater monitoring exercises and post-survey data analysis.
“Alwan is a local term in Batangas that means ‘to ease.’ True to its name, the ALWAN method offers a simplified approach to assessing coral reef health, making it an ideal tool for citizen science applications,” Tomol explained.
Mr. Tomol’s attendance in the activity forms part of his institution’s ongoing efforts to support marine conservation and sustainable coastal resource management.
The Philippines 30x30 Project continues to implement activities that contribute to the country’s biodiversity conservation goals through science-based strategies, local capacity building, and collaborative governance.
The activity was co-implemented by Oceana Philippines, which also extended the invitation to SLSU-Bontoc, recognizing the university’s ongoing commitment to marine science education and coastal ecosystem protection.
This initiative aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 – Life Below Water, SDG 15 – Life on Land, SDG 13 – Climate Action, SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.
