The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Palawan passed Resolution No. 1389-23 during their regular session on October 10, commending the marine protected areas (MPAs) in Palawan for their significant contributions to the protection and preservation of the province’s marine resources.
Board Member Ariston D. Arzaga, along with all board members, authored the resolution in recognition of Palawan’s MPAs’ achievements at the prestigious Para El Mar 2023 awards held in Mandaue City on September 23.
Siete Pecados Marine Park, Balisungan MPA, and the Calamianes MPA Network received accolades for their exceptional efforts in marine conservation.
Siete Pecados Marine Park earned recognition as the Best Locally Managed MPA, surpassing nine other finalists from across the country. It also received awards for “Best Enforcement” and “Best in PNP-MG Saviour of the Sea.”
Conversely, Balisungan MPA secured the title of 3rd Runner-up for “Best Mangrove-Managed MPA,” while the Calamianes MPA Network was named a runner-up for “Best MPA Network.”
MPAs play in preserving marine biodiversity, sustaining fisheries, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
The Para El Mar 2023 awards, organized by the MPA Support Network (MSN) in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), aim to honor and showcase the best-performing marine protected areas in the Philippines.