Blue Alliance Philippines

Blue Alliance Philippines We co-manage MPAs with governments and communities to protect marine biodiversity and improve local livelihoods in the Philippines

Connecting local conservation work to national and global frameworks strengthens the case for sustained support at every...
22/05/2026

Connecting local conservation work to national and global frameworks strengthens the case for sustained support at every level. Blue Alliance Philippines recently participated in the workshop “Propelling the Philippines’ National Action Towards 30x30,” organized by the Oceans 5 Project. During the session, Executive Director Nicolas Pascal shared perspectives on advancing marine conservation through Blue Economy approaches, grounded in on‑the‑ground implementation.

In parallel, Blue Alliance Philippines’ National Manager Bonifacio Tobias and Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator Joseph Dytioco met with the Office of the Assistant Director for Technical Services at the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Central Office to follow up on the Memorandum of Agreement submitted in January 2026. The draft is currently under review by BFAR’s legal division.

These engagements reflect a deliberate effort to work across scales, from barangay‑level patrols and local partnerships to national policy processes and global conservation targets, ensuring that community‑driven conservation contributes to, and benefits from, the commitments being made at the higher levels of governance.



Blue Alliance

12/05/2026

While monitoring the health of reef fish communities is a technical task, it does not need to be solely in the hands of scientists. Blue Alliance Philippines recently conducted a three‑day capacity‑building training in Palawan on simplified methods for underwater commercial fish surveys. The training covered core concepts of reef ecology and fisheries management, along with land based and in‑water fish size estimation techniques. Participants included BAKOD volunteers and representatives from partner LGUs.

By building practical monitoring skills at the community and local government level, this training helps bridge the gap between scientific assessment and community‑based management. Equipped with these tools, local partners are better positioned to independently assess reef fish populations and track ecological condition over time.

Peer‑reviewed evidence consistently shows that community‑based monitoring, when supported by appropriate training and institutional backing, can make meaningful contributions to fisheries management and conservation outcomes in small‑scale fisheries.



Blue Alliance

When local realities inform national policy, conservation action can really take hold. Blue Alliance Philippines recentl...
05/05/2026

When local realities inform national policy, conservation action can really take hold. Blue Alliance Philippines recently contributed technical inputs to a position paper prepared by the LGU of Sablayan for a Senate Committee hearing on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform.

The team met with Attorney Reymund Al Ussam, Attorney III of LGU Sablayan, who was tasked with drafting the paper to support Mayor B**g Marquez’s participation as a resource speaker. Blue Alliance provided inputs on the paper’s framework, drawing on Sablayan’s on-the-ground experience in fisheries enforcement and co-management.

This included details of a recent successful apprehension of a commercial fishing vessel operating within Sablayan’s municipal waters, a direct outcome of Blue Alliance-supported composite team enforcement operations. Cases like this demonstrate how local capacity, when properly supported, can deliver tangible results.

Evidence from across the Philippines consistently shows that effective municipal fisheries governance is strengthened when local enforcement data and co-management experiences are elevated to inform national legislation and policy development.



Blue Alliance Mayor Walter 'B**g' B. Marquez

Effective marine conservation depends on strong enforcement, but enforcement alone is not enough. Creating a lasting imp...
28/04/2026

Effective marine conservation depends on strong enforcement, but enforcement alone is not enough. Creating a lasting impact requires communities that understand why marine resources matter and how to protect them. In Sablayan, Blue Alliance Philippines is helping build that understanding through collaborations with colleges and universities.

We recently convened a joint discussion with the LGU of Sablayan and representatives from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Sablayan Campus and Occidental Mindoro State College (OMSC) to explore how marine conservation advocacy can be embedded in academic programs. Key areas included information, education, and communication (IEC) plans; the formation of student-led BAKOD volunteer groups; and participation in community-based conservation activities.

PUP Sablayan Director Leine Alcaraz committed to integrating fisheries ordinances, the importance of marine protected areas (MPAs), and marine conservation into the National Service Training Program (NSTP) curriculum, strengthening the link between civic education and environmental stewardship.

Both institutions will host IEC activities from late March to mid-April and open student volunteer recruitment for on-the-ground conservation efforts. Implementation will be coordinated with the LGU’s environmental office to ensure that academic engagement translates into measurable conservation outcomes.



Blue Alliance

We had the privilege of hosting UK Special Representative for Nature, Ruth Davis during part of her visit to the Philipp...
27/04/2026

We had the privilege of hosting UK Special Representative for Nature, Ruth Davis during part of her visit to the Philippines. It was a great opportunity to showcase how deeply linked community development, sustainable livelihoods, and ocean conservation are.

Blue Alliance British Embassy Manila

The Samahan ng mga Mangingisda ng Villaflor (SMV) in Puerto Galera is more than just one of our livelihood project recip...
16/04/2026

The Samahan ng mga Mangingisda ng Villaflor (SMV) in Puerto Galera is more than just one of our livelihood project recipients; it is a model of community-led conservation.

The Samahang Mangingisda ng Brgy. Villaflor (SMBV), composed of 59 members, established the "Rice Trading at Iba Pa Store" to provide accessible essential goods including rice, chicken feed, medicines, and fishing supplies to the 98 households of Brgy. Villaflor without requiring residents to travel to the main town.

As one of three pilot people's organizations under Blue Alliance's community development program, SMV has undergone capacity-building seminars, participated in shared best practices workshops, and developed a growing product line.

At the start of 2026, the organization held a coastal clean-up alongside their assembly meeting, likewise recognising members for exemplary contributions in both community service and livelihood project participation. In an early morning visit in March, SMV shared updated internal policies and approaches to conflict resolution.

Research on livelihood diversification in fishing communities suggests community-driven enterprises can reduce pressure on fisheries and build household resilience, though success depends heavily on local ownership and implementation quality.

SMV demonstrates what that ownership can look like.

El Nido, Palawan, home to the limestone karst formations and iconic lagoons of Bacuit Bay, including destinations such a...
26/03/2026

El Nido, Palawan, home to the limestone karst formations and iconic lagoons of Bacuit Bay, including destinations such as the Secret Lagoon and Small Lagoon, is one of the Philippines’ most internationally recognized marine tourism sites.

Beneath these dramatic seascapes lie coral reefs, seagrass beds, and nearshore fisheries that support both biodiversity and local livelihoods. As visitor pressure increases in high-traffic areas, enforcement of local ordinances becomes critical to managing boat traffic, anchoring practices, fishing activities, and coastal resource use.

Blue Alliance joined the Local Government Unit of El Nido, together with enforcement supervisors from the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), Municipal Administration, and Municipal Guards, to address gaps in ordinance enforcement within town proper and Bacuit Bay.

The engagement prioritized the establishment of a dedicated enforcement team and the delivery of paralegal orientation to newly hired enforcers prior to deputation.

Blue Alliance will deliver core training modules on:
1. The Philippine Fisheries Code
2. Deputation authority and enforcement jurisdiction
3. Patrol procedures and documentation standards

In globally visible destinations like El Nido, enforcement actions must be legally grounded and procedurally sound. Protecting world-renowned landscapes requires governance systems capable of managing both biodiversity conservation and intensification of tourism.


Blue Alliance

Across Mindoro and Palawan, Blue Alliance is supporting community-based livelihood initiatives while strengthening gover...
19/03/2026

Across Mindoro and Palawan, Blue Alliance is supporting community-based livelihood initiatives while strengthening governance systems within partner people’s organizations. Community-based livelihood initiatives are key to providing alternative income for those in Marine Protected Areas.

In Barangay Salvacion, Roxas, Palawan a participatory assessment identified gaps in leadership structure, membership records, and compliance mechanisms within the Samahan ng mga Maliliit na Mangingisda.

Monitoring visits in Abra de Ilog and Sablayan reviewed payao operations, mangrove crab production, and a community-managed mangrove ecotourism enterprise. The mangrove ecopark, fully managed by the local community, placed 2nd nationwide in the 2024 Tourism Champions Challenge of the Department of Tourism. Over at Araceli, Palawan, engagements focused on mapping and designing emerging livelihood initiatives in San Jose de Oro.

Strengthening internal capacity ensures that livelihood initiatives remain accountable and operational beyond initial project support.


Blue Alliance

In Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, fisheries enforcement now operates under clearer inter-agency coordination.Blue Allia...
17/03/2026

In Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, fisheries enforcement now operates under clearer inter-agency coordination.

Blue Alliance supported the establishment of a Multisectoral Fisheries Task Force composed of the local government unit (LGU), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The engagement resulted in defined protocols for:
1. Patrol deployment
2. Intelligence sharing
3. Case filing procedures
4. Documentation standards

Emphasis was placed on due process to ensure violations can withstand legal scrutiny. Bantay Dagat units will now secure mission orders from the Office of the Mayor to formalize operations.

When enforcement is coordinated and legally defensible, deterrence increases and marine protections become credible.


Blue Alliance

Palawan’s reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove systems support exceptional biodiversity and fisheries productivity within ...
12/03/2026

Palawan’s reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove systems support exceptional biodiversity and fisheries productivity within the Coral Triangle. Effective protection here carries significance not only locally, but nationally and regionally.

In Taytay, located in the province of Palawan, which is widely regarded as the Philippines’ last ecological frontier, conservation planning and blue economy are being integrated into formal municipal investment frameworks.

Blue Alliance conducted technical discussions with municipal leadership to review the Enforcement Plan, MPA Management Action Plan, and Municipal Fisheries Code. The primary focus was integrating these instruments into the Local Development Investment Plan and Annual Investment Plan.

By embedding marine protection into official budgeting processes, conservation shifts from stand-alone programming to structurally funded governance.

The notarized Memorandum of Agreement between the Local Government Unit and Blue Alliance formally establishes fisheries enforcement and Marine Protected Area co-management for 10 years renewable, strengthening institutional continuity in one of the country’s most ecologically significant provinces.


Blue Alliance

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Calapan
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Tuesday 9am - 6pm
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Thursday 9am - 6pm
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