June, 26 2025

Led by the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Atty. Anthony Charlemagne Yu, along with Raymond Rufino, Maria Theresa Marcial, Regina Angela Paez Lorenzo, Corporate Secretary Atty. Melissa Lichaytoo and Executive Director Katherine Custodio, the team met the Program Manager of the Donsol Integrated Conservation Programs (DICP), Manuel Narvadez, Jr., to see first-hand how the organisation’s conservation efforts in the region have flourished, not just for the protection of whale sharks but also for the community as well. 

Years of putting nature forward pays off

WWF-Philippines’ work in Donsol dates as far back as 1998, when the organisation formed a joint commitment with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Donsol and the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region V to protect the whale sharks and promote sustainable tourism.
 
Fast forward to today, Donsol has recently been classified as a first-class municipality. The steady rise of ecotourism has augmented the livelihood of the people, and the same environmental commitment has grown beyond the borders of Donsol.

In 2023, WWF-Philippines inked a quadripartite agreement with the LGU Donsol, DOT Region V, and the newly joined Sorsogon Provincial Government. Recognising the tourism value of the whale shark, the quadripartite alliance enables the organisation to effectively push nature-based initiatives and livelihood projects all throughout the Bicol region. 

Yu, Rufino, Marcial, Lorenzo, Lichaytoo, and Custodio visited some of the ecotourist sites in Donsol that made all these recent achievements possible, as well as met some of the local stakeholders to see how these conservation principles have become part of their everyday lives. 

One of the highly recommended ecotourist sites to see is the Mangrove Site in Marigondon, Pio Duran. The site is home to various species of mangroves and is only a 45-minute drive away from the town of Donsol. 

Besides the mangroves shielding the local community against the impacts of climate change, it is also one of the local community’s sources of income. Community members help protect the mangroves as well as promote ecotourism by providing educational tours about the different types of mangroves and how to nurse them.

The WWF Team also visited the food shed and nursery run by the Gimagaan Indigenous People Farmers Association, and met members of the Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI), the women’s group upcycling plastic waste into whale shark souvenirs. 

In addition to these livelihood projects, the organisation has also continued to work closely with the LGUs across Region V to promote environmental sustainability. 

“We are truly grateful for what our community and local government partners have done as stewards of the environment,” said Custodio.

WWF-Philippines now leads several cross-cutting conservation initiatives across the four provinces in Bicol—Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, and Masbate.

“Donsol is a shining example proving that development does not have to mean destruction of nature. Now that WWF is working in the entire TBPPS seascape and across various themes, we are committed to deliver even more positive impact, anchored on the progress made in Donsol,” added Custodio. 

Through participation in the trip, WWF Board Members reaffirmed their commitment to champion environmental stewardship and be voices that amplify WWF-Philippines conservation initiatives.