DENR-7 Development Management Officer II Laverna Jade Siarot and Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) Ecosystems Management Specialist Joselito Francis Alcaria present the line-up of activities for the 2025 Month of the Ocean celebration during the Kapihan sa PIA forum on May 14, 2025 in Cebu. (PIA7)
CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 7 will mark the 27th anniversary of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) on May 27.
According to TSPS ecosystems management specialist Joselito Francis Alcaria, DENR plays a vital role in managing the Tañon Strait’s expansive 534,589.04-hectare marine ecosystem.
One of the largest marine protected areas in the Philippines, the Tañon Strait belongs to the ecoregion with the highest marine diversity in the world.
The strait has 18,000 hectares of coral reefs and 5,000 hectares of mangroves.
Because of its high productivity, the strait is a favorable cetacean habitat and it serves as a feeding, breeding, and nesting ground for marine mammals.
Alcaria explained that the area has been organized into smaller groups for better management.
“Para mapadali ang iyang management gi-subdivide ang area into six site management units. Kaning tanan nga unit under na sa Protected Area Management Board (PAMB),” said Alcaria.
(To make its management easier, the area has been subdivided into six site management units. All these units fall under the jurisdiction of the Protected Area Management Board or PAMB.)
Leading up to the anniversary, Alcaria said that several stakeholders’ meetings have been conducted to provide updates on the status of the Tañon Strait, including accomplishments, ongoing projects, challenges, and the previous year’s financial and work plans.
The stakeholders include fisherfolk associations, representatives of local government units (LGUs), members of the Bantay Dagat, and Special Use Agreement in Protected Areas (SAPA) holders, all of whom play key roles in the management and conservation of the protected seascape.
Among the anniversary events are a dance contest, balak (poetry) contest, boat racing, swimming competition, and the search for the best locally managed marine protected area. These will be participated in by representatives from all six site management units.
“Aduna sad tay Quiz Bee nga pagahimoon unya ang mga participants ani mga estudyante sa senior high school,” Alcaria added.
(We will also conduct a Quiz Bee, and the participants will be senior high school students.)
To be hosted by the Moalboal local government, the TSPS anniversary is also part of DENR’s activities in line with the observation of Month of the Ocean this May.
Month of the Ocean
DENR has kicked off the Month of the Ocean celebration this month with a series of activities promoting marine conservation and climate awareness.
The department has set up an interactive booth at the lobby of their office featuring life-sized standees of flagship marine species to engage their visitors and promote conservation messages in a creative and impactful way.
DENR development management officer II Laverna Jade Siarot said the booth aims to boost environmental awareness by allowing participants to take photos with the standees of various marine species.
The marine species include Dowee the Asian Dowitcher (Limnodromus semipalmatus), Little Rufee the Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), Hiyas the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Lamby the Blue Crab (Portunus pelagicus), Allpa the Mangrove Crab (Scylla serrata), Pipa the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Mego the Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris longirostris), and Jack the Jack Fish (Caranx hippos).
A green film festival, showcasing environmental documentaries, was also held to further promote climate awareness and advocacy.
DENR is also conducting the National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Capacity Building Program, from May 18–24 in Hagnaya, San Remigio.
Attended by participants from MIMAROPA, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas regions, the program focuses on climate change planning for coastal and marine environments.
DENR also called on the public to actively participate in preserving coastal and marine ecosystems initiatives.
“Please let’s help to protect and conserve the marine environment kay luoy kaayo ang future generation. Let’s not wait nga ang isda nga gusto nilang kaonon naa na lang sa libro or naa na lang sa museum. Also let us leave no trace, dapat atong basura kung maglulinghayaw ta sa kabaybayonan atong dalhon sa pag-uli ug syempre ato siyang isegregate ug sakto,” said Siarot.
(Please let’s work together to protect and conserve the marine environment because the future generation will suffer. Let’s not wait until the fish they want to eat can only be seen in books or museums. Also, let us leave no trace—when we go to the beach, we should take our trash home with us and segregate it properly.) (MYP/PIA Cebu)
