MPIF Bolsters Marine Guardians Program in Medina

Conducts Sustainability Assessment to Strengthen Marine Protection

Makati, Philippines, 5^th March 2021 – Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), fortifies its partnership with the Municipality of Medina, Misamis Oriental through a sustainability assessment of its three year-long Marine Protection, Inspection, and Conservation (MPIC) Guardians program.

 

On Medina and MPIF

 

Misamis Oriental, a fourth-class province situated in Northern Mindanao, is recovering into its role as one of the Philippines’ prime dive sites following detrimental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. With its rich marine ecosystem emphasized by its must-visit sites for divers, the Department of Tourism has actively positioned the province as a premier dive destination alongside Camiguin and Misamis Occidental.

 

Local tourism officials identified at least eight areas in a recent survey and assessment, naming Medina’s Japanese Garden and Paradise Aquarium, Taisayan’s Pontoon Wreck and Sipaka Point, Balingoan’s Mantangale House Reef and Lapinig, and Gingoog’s Marine Protected Area and Gingoog Port as the must-dive locations in Misamis Oriental.

 

The value of the province’s dive profile and the need for immediate rehabilitation of marine resources has identified Medina, a 133-square kilometer municipality in the province known for its abundant fish production, as a key area for the implementation of MPIF’s Marine Protection, Inspection, and Conservation (MPIC) Guardians Program back in 2018 – one of the many initiatives under MPIF’s flagship program, Shore It Up!

 

 

Before Shore It Up!

 

Prior to MPIF’s intervention, Medina’s dive sites housed a multitude of underwater jewels, from a diverse collection of fish species to a wide array of both soft and hard corals. Its rich marine biodiversity is a sight to behold, which makes visiting these dive areas an unmatched experience. These Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are priority spots for conservation and protection.

 

Unfortunately, this has also made Medina a hub for dangerous and unlawful fishing activity, primarily when commercial fishing vessels from surrounding towns and provinces arrive in their waters. Their fish and marine resources were abused by overfishing and use of illegal methods.

 

 

The MPIC Guardians’ Impact

 

Through the implementation of the MPIC Guardians program, twenty-seven (27) local fishermen were deputized and given the essential training, equipment, and monthly allowances to serve as stewards of marine protection in the municipality. They were given the responsibility to conduct foot and seaborne patrol, implement a monthly coastal clean-up in all coastal barangays, monitor the fish catch, enforce strict implementation of no-fishing in Medina waters for non-residents and of hook and line fishing only at the fish aggregate device. The Foundation allocated a five-year budget of around P6.8M for this program with capacity building, uniforms, equipment, and salaries included.

 

In effect, the MPIC Guardians and their families saw an improvement in their lives, citing the increase in fish to catch as the catalyst to increase their means to support themselves and their families.

 

The program not only saw the increase and improvement in quality of the fish catch of Medina fishermen, but brought about the absence and even voluntary surrender of illegal fishermen. The presence of this alternative livelihood also paved way for the opening of economic activity to tourist boat operators who contribute approximately P1.7 million to Brgy. Duka’s annual income.

 

Its social impact also included the increase of awareness among their locals on the benefit of coastal and marine protection pivoted towards how it affects their lives, as well as the increase in participant count in LGU-organized environmental protection activities.

 

 “For three years that we have been together with MPIC, we have internalized the real purpose and intention of the program,” says Municipal Mayor Donato N. Chan. “It is not just in the abundance of fish catch. We also take pride in establishing the Marine Protected Area and the system we have done with the support of MPIC to enrich our marine lives in the municipality. As we express our gratitude to MPIC, may our success story not just be a history but a legacy that our future generations will live on.”

 

 

Sustainability in Support of Strengthening Marine Protection

 

Led by MPIF President Melody M. Del Rosario, the Foundation conducted a comprehensive sustainability assessment to better gauge the program’s current situation and its impact to date since it began.

 

The assessment included a thorough questionnaire on the status of marine pollution, illegal fishing, fish catch, implemented activities and efforts, as well as an appraisal on the MPIC guardians’ fulfillment of their day-to-day responsibilities. A corresponding evaluation on the involvement of barangay officials and other community members was also key in determining the sustainability of the program in Medina.

 

 “The MPIC Guardians Program in Medina kickstarted MPIF’s vision to create a network of partner sites that uphold solid marine protection and conservation practices in key Marine Protected Areas,” says MPIF President Melody Del Rosario. “This pioneering initiative led to our bigger goal of achieving a number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. We must ensure its sustainability, not only for the continuity towards this goal, but also to reinforce the impact of our support for these individuals, their families, and their community.”

 

The MPIC Guardians program addresses six of the 17 SDGs, namely (14) Life Below Water, (15) Life on Land, (13) Climate Action, (2) Zero Hunger, (8) Decent Work and Economic Growth, and (17) Partnerships for the Goals. This is in line with Metro Pacific’s commitment to both the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the largest corporate sustainability initiative aimed to align strategies and operations with universal principles on good governance and ethical business practices; and the Sustainable Accounting Board Alliance (SASB), a program for organizations and individuals that support the need for more decision-useful, cost-effective sustainability disclosure.

 

The same sustainability assessment will be conducted with Puerto Galera’s MPIC Guardians by this month as well.

END

 

For further information, please contact:

Melody del Rosario

VP – Public Relations and Corporate Communications, MPIC

09189635639