Mabini-Tingloy Marine Biodiversity Conservation Project

Within Balayan Bay, the municipalities of Mabini and Tingloy, better known as "Anilao," covers 65,000 hectares and a 68-km coastline. Anilao is well known among scuba divers for its rich biodiversity and abundant marine life. WWF-Philippines' studies show that Anilao harbors at least 319 species of corals and at least 74 genera of hard corals, 42 of which represent records new to the Philippines. Since 1999, the LGU of Mabini and Tingloy conducted patrols to stop illegal fishing and with WWF developed a coastal management program. The investments resulted in higher fish biomass, high or stable live coral cover and sighting of marine mammals and turtles. Institutional capacities have been strengthened through policy reforms and trainings. Total collections from the user-fee system for the initial year of 2004, amounted to PhP 1,109,869-enough to cover the core costs of this area's Bantay Dagat. Next year, a unified user fee system with Tingloy will be established; capacities of the CRM boards will be enhanced and best practices in sustainable coastal tourism will be gathered, documented and disseminated. The project is supported by a grant from the Homeland Foundation, Henry Foundation, WWF-US and the East Asia Pacific - Environment Initiative grant from USAID.To know more about this project,
please email rsandalo@wwf.org.ph