To provide science-based input to

long-term sustainable management

of the coastal and marine ecosystems
Updating Nationwide Baseline Data
on Coastal and Marine Habitats

Developing Site-Specific
Implementing Rules & Regulations
for Management

Capacity-Building for Monitoring &

Evaluation of Environmental Impact
 Batanes PLS

Agoo-Damortis PLS Palaui Island MR

Coral
Hundred Islands NP Seagrass Peñablanca PLS
Mangrove Malabungot PLS
Masinloc-Oyon Bay MR
Sediment modelling
Verde Island Passage Sagay PLS

Apo Reef NP Guiuan PLS

El Nido MRPA Biri-LaRoSa PLS

Malampaya Sound PLS Cuatro Islas PLS

Tubbataha Reefs NP Panglao Island PLS

Taklong Island NMR Siargao Island PLAS

Apo Island PLS Alburquerque-Loay-

Loboc PLS
Tañon Strait PS
Selinog Island PLS
Aliguay Island PLS
Initao-Libertad PLS
Turtle Islands Wildlife
Sanctuary Pujada Bay PLS

Murcielagos Island PLS Mabini PLS

Talibon Group of Islands Baliangao PLS

PLS
Dumanquillas Bay PLS
Great & Little Sta. Cruz
Islands PLS Saranggani Bay PS
Batanes PLS Palaui IPLS

Biri-Larosa PLS
Bolinao

Zambales
Sagay MR Oceanography
ARRAS
Coral
Verde Island Passage Guiuan PLS Fish
Seagrass
Mangrove
Siargao IPLAS Deep Coral
Coastal Integrity
Kalayaan Islands Connectivity
Group, Tubbataha Surigao del Sur ARMS
Reefs

Initao-Libertad PLS
El Nido MRPA,
Linapacan,
Quezon
Mabini & Pujada
Bohol Bay PLS
Aliguay IPLS
 Species Richness is very high in protected
areas, specifically Tubbataha & Apo Reefs.
Sabina
Shoal
Fish Biomass & Density is high in
Pagasa
Island
Batanes protected areas , including Linapacan & KIG
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
We also see that offshore reefs of the KIG
ESTIMATED CATCH PER
FISHER IN KG/HOUR
have high fishing potential, with typical
Hook & Line
catch per fisher of 0.5 to 1.5 kilograms per
Spear Gun hour.

Apo Reef There is merit to protecting offshore reefs

(like Tubbataha, Apo, KIG, Western
Palawan) which have less exposure to
Linapacan anthropogenic influence

Quezon
Biomass Very High High Moderate Low
mt/km2 > 40 21 - 40 11 - 20 0 - 10

Kalayaan Islands
Group (KIG) Species
Tubbataha Reefs Very High High Moderate
Natural Park Richness
> 50 37.5 - 50 24 - 37
species/500m2

Density High Moderate Low

Individuals/500m2 1,134 - 338.5 - 101 –
3,796 1,133.5 338
 The offshore reefs of the KIG have a
wide impact on a very large scale.
KIG protection will benefit the
Philippines & countries of the Coral
Triangle.
• Corals and fish larvae of the KIG
are source for neighbouring
islands and reef systems of the
coral triangle (Pata 2017, Kool et
al. 2011)

Policy Recommendation
• Collaboration with other
National Agencies for
protection and management of
the KIG is crucial to
biodiversity conservation and
food security
Larval dispersal from the Kalayaan Islands Group based on
wind and ocean currents over time (daily)
Courtesy of Cesar K. Villanoy
See Policy Brief No. 01
 Amihan Coral and fish larvae can be brought to far
Northeast Monsoon distances by ocean currents. Connectivity
relates how habitats are connected by this
type of movement

Source reefs are able to provide larvae

for export to suitable growing sites, called
sinks Some sites are self-seeding and
depend on their local marine populations for
larval supply

The monsoon seasons influence

source-sink patterns due to the
differences in wind and current
Habagat dynamics.
Southwest Monsoon
Therefore: protection is critical
for larval source habitats and
self-seeding sites.
Source reefs Sink reefs

Self-seeding reefs
 The boxes indicate the broad-scale networks of source
and sinks of coral and fish larvae.

Embedding MPAs within a broader management

framework maximizes ecological resilience between
individual MPAs.

Policy Recommendation
• Connectivity studies provide the scientific basis
for the prioritization, design, & establishment of
MPA Networks.

See Policy Brief No. 02

West Luzon Network VIP-Sibuyan Network

Regions I, III Regions IVA, IVB
On a finer scale, Zambales is
naturally self-seeding. Therefore,
the area cannot rely on external
sources for coral & fish larval
inputs.

Hence, greater effort is needed to

protect the area.

Management Recommendations
• Conservation prioritization of
both persistent reefs* and deep
reefs (30 to 150 m)
• Application of strict aquaculture
regulation to maintain good
water quality
• Review of infrastructure &
reclamation activity impacts
• Regulation of mining in
neighboring municipalities

* Persistent reefs are always present in RS

images through time
 In the Philippines, the average
BOLINAO
Hard Coral Cover is Poor — 28.8%

During the two-year monitoring

LIAN
period of the project, it was
fortunate that no significant
SABLAYAN change was observed. However,
BIRI-LAROSA there is still a need for long term
annual monitoring due to
increased threats experienced by
Philippine reefs.
EL NIDO

Additionally, cryptobiodiversity
SAGAY
baseline data was established for
monitoring this faunal group, as it
is the first to be impacted by
ocean acidification.

Observed changes in hard coral cover

TUBBATAHA (HCC) in 91 stations* over 2 years:
ALIGUAY Increasing
INITAO-LIBERTAD

No change
Decreasing
IGACOS *43 in NIPAS sites, 48 non-NIPAS for
comparative basis
 BOLINAO
Policy Recommendations
• Implement a sustained
LIAN nationwide reef monitoring
system, especially for the
SABLAYAN nationally- and locally-
BIRI-LAROSA managed reef areas.

• Eliminate human-derived
EL NIDO
stressors on reefs.

SAGAY • Review and update the laws

and regulations concerning
coral reefs.

• Cryptobiodiversity should
be monitored for early signs
TUBBATAHA
of ocean acidification
ALIGUAY
INITAO-LIBERTAD impact.

See Policy Brief No. 03

IGACOS
 Overall, in the areas surveyed, reef fish communities
have low species diversity and moderate abundance.
➢ MPAs positively impacted current reef fish status.
➢ Deep coral reef fish are larger than shallow reef fish
and hence can produce more eggs for reproduction.
➢ Mesophotic deep reefs serve as refuge from climate
stressors & high fishing pressure.
Masinloc-Oyon
Bay Policy Recommendations
• DENR field assessment and monitoring should
include the mesophotic deep reefs.
Verde Island Passage
Lobo • MPA design should integrate vertical ecological
Biri-Larosa
connectivity that covers the deep reefs. It
Romblon enhances the climate resilient feature of the
Guiuan
MPA.
El Nido Siargao See Policy Brief No. 04
Total Relative
Bohol Marine Species Count
196-220 221-246 247-271 272-297
Triangle
Average Relative
Abundance
(individuals./500m2) 331-583 584-837 838-1,090 1,091-1,344

Average Relative
Biomass
(mt/500m2) 11-22 23-33 34-44 45-55
 Abra de Ilog © Seagrass & mangrove ecosystems serve as
2016 Digital Globe
important nursery grounds for fisheries.
Mangroves can sequester carbon 100% more than
terrestrial forests.

Area coverage of both habitats generally

decreased within a 70-yr span. Majority of
historical mangrove areas nationwide have been
converted to aquaculture sites. As a consequence,
fisher communities observed a decrease in their
Historical Recent fish & invertebrate catch trend.
mangroves mangroves
Policy Recommendations
Biri Larosa PLS
© 2016 Digital Globe • Each ecosystem serves a purpose and one
should not be sacrificed for another.
• Seagrasses & mangroves must be included
in designing marine protected areas.
See Policy No. 05

• Land use changes in mangrove areas

should be monitored using Google Earth
and other free remote sensing products.
Historical See Policy No. 06
Recent
seagrass seagrass
 A Philippine-wide storm wave exposure
Zambales post-storm
Santa Cruz sedimentation plume map map was developed for vulnerability inputs
to management plans. Areas in orange/red
Candelaria
are commonly exposed to strong waves,
Masinloc
while green/blue areas are less exposed.
Palauig
Iba
This can help identify areas prone to
Botolan constant coral damage or coastal erosion
Cabangan due to typhoons.
San Felipe
San Marcelino
San Narciso
Castillejos
Storms also bring about heavy rains which
Olongapo transport materials such as sediment,
Nov 1995 pollution and excess nutrients from the
uplands to the coast.

Sedimentation plume maps were also

produced. These show the extent of
sediment released by rivers, and can be
indicators for need for land-use activity
regulation.

Wave Height in Meters (10-year return period) See Policy Brief No. 07

0-2 2-4 4-6 6-8 8-10

 Beach erosion is widespread. A major
factor is foreshore infrastructure—this
Uyugan
Eroding
interferes with the natural flow of water &
Stable sediment.
Accreting

Policy Recommendations
Sabtang • Hydrodynamic studies should be
BATANES
required as input to development
planning.
• In places where it is necessary to
put up a pier, building piers on stilts
should be made mandatory.
• Decision-making on foreshore
Stilt-type piers
prevent erosion infrastructures should not rest
solely on the LGU, PPA and BFAR,
Exposed coconut roots & but should also involve the DENR,
leaning trees are erosion specifically BMB,EMB and LMB,
indicators
and the DPWH.

See Policy Brief No. 08

MINDORO ORIENTAL
Management Recommendation
• There is a need to revisit the
Abra de Ilog Foreshore/Easement Zone Law for
improvement & stricter implementation.
 Coastal resource data on existing and
proposed NIPAS sites have been integrated
into a database system.

C o R VA D B
P L AY
The database system can be used
by LGUs & other government
agencies, such as the Department
of Tourism (DOT) to identify
ecotourism sites that are good to
market, such as:

1. The Alburquerque Loboc-Loay

Protected Landscape &
Seascape

2. The dive sites of the Bohol

Marine Triangle and the
island’s unique double reef
barrier

It can also be used to identify areas

to be proposed as UNESCO sites,
such as…
 Through the CARE-
CaDRES Project, we
submitted an official
application to declare
Bohol Island as a
UNESCO Geopark.

BOHOL ISLAND:
Proposed UNESCO
Geopark *A collaborative effort of PG-Bohol and the
DOT, with the technical support of DENR
through CARE-CaDRES
NIPAS Boundary
Mangroves The marine resources of Masinloc-Oyon
Seagrass Bay have been capitalized by existing
ecotourism sites.

MASINLOC
Coral
Unique Mesophotic
Corals
San Salvador MPA There was a need to develop ecotourism
Snorkeling Site IEC Strategies & material to boost
Yaha Mangrove
Island
marketing and improve income
Giant Clam Farm generation.

Policy Recommendations
PALAUIG
• Ecological information must be made a
requisite in the early stages of the
Masinloc’s coastal
resources & notable BDFE identification and planning
existing ecotourism process.
sites
• Existing guidelines should include
mechanisms to assess and identify
enhancement needs for existing
livelihood initiatives to enable scaling
up into BDFEs.
IEC & marketing materials
developed for Ecotourism
in Masinloc See Policy Brief No. 09
 To make all these conservation efforts
(42) (9)
sustainable, capacity-building is
19 9 6 8 9000
necessary. A total of 686 personnel
(77) (78) were trained.
35 25 7 10 65 6 6 1
423 out of 686 (62%) were from
(35) (46)
7 1 24 3 25 10 11 0 DENR:
o Luzon — 202
(18) (29) o Visayas — 126
18 24 5 0 0 o Mindanao — 95
(114)
(41) A high number of DENR personnel
19 6 2 14
59 14 10 31 were from Regions II, IVB, & III.
(48) (30)
31 11 0 6 17 5 6 2 Management Recommendations
• DENR-BMB can target more
(15) (37)
representation from the Visayas &
15 0 0 0 22 2 13 0
Mindanao regions for trainings.
(24) (18) • DENR-BMB can identify partners
23 1 0 0 16 1 0 1 that can train with them to
(2) (23) enhance synergistic collaboration
0020 19 4 0 0 for coastal resource management.

DENR LGU and NGA HEI NGO and PO

COASTAL ASSESSMENT, MONITORING AND REHABILITATION

Trainings for capacity-building were

integrated into a series of 12 modules.
These cover bio-physical, management,
governance & socio-economic aspects.

Management Recommendations
• Effective capacity-building should
consist of targeted training, designed
for mid-management & on-the-
ground personnel

• A technical bulletin would be

MANAGEMENT GOVERNANCE & SOCIO-ECONOMIC
required for the implementation of
standardized assessment and
monitoring procedures
 As long-term capacity-building, CARE-
(1) (1) CaDRES provided support for DENR
Ecosystem Management Ecosystem Management personnel to enroll in UP’s Professional
Specialist II (Cycle 2) Specialist II (C3)
Masters in Tropical Marine Ecosystems
Management (PM-TMEM) program.
(2) This built up their academic &
Development Management professional scientific knowledge for
Officer I (C3, C4) the benefit of conservation &
(5) management.
Senior Ecosystem (2)
Management Specialist II (C2) Ecosystem Management Policy Recommendations
Forest Technician II (C2, C3, C4) Specialist (C4)mi
Project Development Officer II (C3) Forester I (C4) • It is best that coastal & marine
managers and staff have a
(2) background in tropical marine
(2)
Administrative Aide ecosystem management, marine
Senior Science Research
Specialist (C1)
VI (C4)mi biology or other allied fields.
Ecosystem Management See Policy Brief No. 10
Specialist (C4) (4)
Forest Ranger (C1)
Chief, Coastal and Marine
(1)
Management Unit (C3)m
Science Research
Development
Specialist I (C4)
Management Officer II (C3)
Special Investigator I (C4)
 Keeping our coastal and marine ecosystems
resilient, healthy and sustainable is a
primary requisite for Harnessing a Blue
Economy for the Philippines’ Sustainable
Development
The estimated total annual net benefits
from our marine ecosystems:
US$ 6.35 Billion or Php 317 Billion
• There is a need for studies on the
monetary value of services that marine
ecosystems provide
• These provide support for decision-
making on the sustainability of economic
activities related to marine resources
The value of seagrass and mangrove
ecosystems includes their capacity to
absorb carbon and mitigate climate change
effects.
• This calls for the harmonization of
seagrass, mangrove , and coral
conservation measures.
Source: Azanza et al 2017
See 1st and 2nd Policy Papers on Blue Economy and
Blue Carbon
 Society is dependent on a lot of benefits and
services from marine ecosystems,
The institutionalization of Payments for
Ecosystem Services by its users is a
mechanism that promotes
• Inclusive growth of coastal communities
Benefitss from marine ecosystems:
Provisioning, Regulating, Cultural, and Supporting Services • Income generation for the conservation
& protection of the marine resource base
For inclusive sustainable development, the
Philippines’ engagement in international
cooperation could enable
• Harnessing the benefits from marine
resources in areas beyond our national
jurisdiction (ABNJ)
• Collaborative efforts in research,
exploration, and development in ABNJ
The Philippines is All these in support of a blue economy -
strategically located a multi-agency & multi-sectoral collaboration
between the South
China Sea and the See 3rd and 4th Policy Papers on Nature –based
Pacific Ocean Solutions and Global Interest in ABNJ
2014 © CoRVA Project, Verde Island Passage