03/08/2026
๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ผ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐๐ต ๐๐ฎ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐' ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ๐
BULALACAO, Oriental Mindoro โ Young leaders from across Mindoro Island have formed the Mindoro Youth Network for Bluer Coasts, a peer educators' network that will amplify youth voices in environmental and health advocacy and governance.
The network emerged from Tugdaan, a three-day peer education training held from July 31 to August 2, 2026, at Buyayao Island, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro. The training gathered 70 young leaders, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) representatives, and youth advocates from across the island cluster.
Over three days, participants strengthened their knowledge and leadership skills in environmental conservation, climate resilience, and peer education, while laying the groundwork for a youth network dedicated to championing bluer coasts and more resilient communities across Mindoro.
Tugdaan, which means "seedbed" in Alangan Mangyan, trains youth peer educators drawn from young leaders, youth organizations, and SK representatives across the Mindoro Island cluster. The program builds their knowledge, leadership, and peer education skills in environmental conservation, climate resilience, and integrated ecosystem management.
Through classroom sessions, field-based learning, and collaborative planning, participants gained the competencies to become community champions โ promoting environmental stewardship, engaging their peers, and contributing meaningfully to local environmental governance.
Tugdaan is implemented by PATH Foundation Philippines, Inc. (PFPI) through the ADAPT for Bluer Coasts and Community Resilience (ADAPT) Project, a four-year initiative strengthening climate resilience across vulnerable coastal municipalities in the Mindoro Island cluster. Supported by the UK Government's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through the Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transition (COAST) Facility, ADAPT applies the Protected, Productive, and People (3Ps) framework to advance nature-based solutions, sustainable livelihoods, and inclusive marine governance.
Beyond a one-time training, PFPI envisions Tugdaan as a recurring program sustained through a youth-led network of peer educators โ one that will carry forward collaboration, learning, and collective action beyond the life of the ADAPT Project.
"Through the network, we hope to institutionalize a mechanism where youth champions for the environment can continuously empower themselves to catalyze behavior change among their peers and become active citizens participating in governance bodies," said Recamar Guiรฑares, ADAPT Project program manager.
Frecious Margaret Valdez, a participant from Victoria, Oriental Mindoro, said she plans to bring what she learned at Tugdaan back to her community to help develop a concrete plan for putting the training into action.
"Halimbawa po sa pagtatanim ng mangrove, kasi ito po yung meron sa aming barangay. Sa lahat po ng naging activity, mas natatatak sa puso ko po ang pakikinig sa mga information sa iba't ibang species sa ating mangrove, coral reefs, and seagrass, kasi konti pa lang yung information ko dati about doon," Valdez said.
Wred Gaba, an environmental science student from Mindoro State University, said her favorite part of Tugdaan was the experiential learning, particularly joining the seagrass assessment exercise.
"Kung kaya't ang gagawin ko po ay maging isang mahusay at matalinong peer educator na kung saan lahat ng natutunan ko dito sa Tugdaan 2026 ay hindi ko lamang basta ibabahagi sa kanila kundi mas ipapaintindi ko sa kanila kung gaano kasarap ang magmahal ng ating kalikasan. Isa sa mga pinakanagmarka sa akin at isa sa mga pinakamalapit na talaga sa puso ko ay yung mga aktibidad nila kagaya ng assessment sa mangrove, sa corals, at sa seagrasses. Isa ako sa mga participants na napasama sa seagrasses, hindi dahil kakaunti ang may gustong matuto kundi dahil ito talaga yung gusto kong matutunan," she said.
PFPI Executive Vice President Dr. Joan Castro said that for 30 years, PFPI has advanced peer education as an effective mechanism in addressing the interconnected issues of population, health, and environment.
"Naniniwala kami na kapag ang kabataan ay nabibigyan ng tamang kaalaman, kasanayan at pagkakataong mamuno, nagiging mas matatag ang mga tao, ang komunidad at ang ating kapaligiran. Simula rin ito ng paghubog ninyo bilang isang leader at tagapaghatid ng positibong pagbabago," she said in her message to the Tugdaan peer educators.
Tugdaan was co-convened by the ADAPT Project in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Mindoro Biodiversity Corridor Project, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Bulalacao Local Government Unit. The provincial local government units of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro also provided support to the activity through the SK of Poblacion and San Juan, Bulalacao; Baruyan and Sapul, Calapan City; Alcate, Victoria; and the SK Federation of Sablayan.
Oriental Mindoro Vice Governor Jojo Perez has expressed his support for Tugdaan during one of the courtesy meetings conducted by the organizing team with partner LGUs.
โI will always support the youth and initiatives in environmental conservation,โ the vice governor said. # # #
About the COAST Facility
The COAST Facility, part of the wider COAST Programme, strengthens climate resilience in vulnerable coastal communities by protecting ecosystems, improving governance, and promoting inclusive, sustainable livelihoods. Led by DAI Global and funded by the UK Government through the FCDO, the Facility supports locally led action through flexible grants, technical assistance, and policy support to deliver lasting benefits for people and nature.
๐ฅ Mindoro's Finest
