DOT-8 conducts inspection at the site of the Arteche Mangrove Forest trail and convention center site. (Photo courtesy of LGU Arteche)
ARTECHE, Eastern Samar -In a community-driven effort to protect its rich mangrove ecosystem, the local government of Arteche has launched PAGTIPIG: From Poachers to Keepers, a program that safeguards the environment and transforms the lives of those once engaged in illegal poaching.
The Arteche Mangrove Forest, spanning 539 hectares, is one of the largest of its kind in the region. It is home to diverse marine life, including the prized snapping shrimp and crabs that sustain local fishing communities.
However, the forest faces increasing threats from deforestation, as poverty has driven some residents to illegally cut mangroves for charcoal and timber.
Instead of criminalizing these individuals, Arteche Mayor Roland Boie Evardone saw an opportunity for transformation. Through the PAGTIPIG Program—named after the Waray term for “conserve” or “protect”—individuals who once relied on mangrove poaching were hired and trained as Arteche Mangrove Forest Warriors, tasked with preserving the rich biodiversity of the forest.
For Evardone, the key to real change was not punishment, but understanding the root cause of the problem.
“With the PAGTIPIG program, we are converting the problem (poachers) to be part of the solution. We see it as an opportunity to transform their lives. Instead of persecuting them, we look deeper into the root cause of the problem which is poverty. This is happening due to a lack of awareness coupled with the lack of employment opportunities,” Evardone said.
Evardone added that by hiring former poachers as official protectors of the Arteche Mangrove Forest, the program safeguards the environment and provides stable, dignified jobs.
As part of Arteche’s ecotourism push, the LGU has also integrated the forest into its “#ArtecheLovesYou Day Tour”—offering visitors a unique experience of the mangrove ecosystem. The snapping shrimp, a symbol of Arteche’s Taklaan Festival, is a highlight of this natural wonder.
Additionally, the LGU has partnered with ESSU College of Fisheries to determine suitable mangrove species for replanting. The Office of Municipal Agriculture & Services aims to rehabilitate three hectares of mangroves annually from 2025 to 2028 through initiatives like “Tanom Bag-o Graduate and Kasal Program” which require graduates and newlyweds to plant mangroves.
Evardone also shared that in 2024, the LGU invited chefs from Cebu to train local cooks to further enhance the community’s ecotourism potential and improve their culinary skills, with the aim of positioning Arteche as a food tourism destination. (VTG/PIA E. Samar)
