P2.6M project boosts Sagay marine protection efforts

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Sagay City Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva said the PHP2.6 million multi-sectoral project affirms the city’s commitment to marine protection and sustainable tourism.

“This partnership will not only protect our natural resources but also create and grow opportunities for our people,” Cueva said in a post on the official social media page of the city government.

Cueva was referring to the PHP2.6-million initiative launched to strengthen the protection and management of the Lapus-Lapus Macapagao Local Conservation Area in Barangay Bulanon, Sagay City.

The 15-month project, which began Aug. 5, will safeguard 299 hectares of mangroves and seagrass beds, reforest five hectares of mangrove areas, and build the capacity of the Lapus-Lapus Bulanon Floating Cottage Association in conservation and ecotourism operations, while exploring alternative livelihoods for local residents.

The project brings together the Forest Foundation Philippines, the Sagay City government, the Jollibee Group Foundation, local organizations, and community stakeholders in a unified push for marine and coastal conservation.

Forest Foundation Philippines Executive Director Atty. Jose Andres Canivel said the project aims to ensure the long-term health of vital marine habitats—home to species such as Sonneratia alba and Enhalus acoroides—while empowering the community to become active stewards of the environment.

The conservation area, which spans 363.57 hectares, was officially designated through Ordinance No. 2023-003 to promote sustainable management and biodiversity protection.

This aligns with Forest Foundation Philippines’ thrust to grow trees, grow opportunities, and grow partnerships.

The total project cost includes PHP1,921,550 from Forest Foundation Philippines, PHP500,000 from the Jollibee Group Foundation, and PHP189,000 from the Sagay City government.

The project follows a year of groundwork led by Forest Foundation Philippines, the local government through the Sagay City Information and Tourism Office and SCENRO, and community partners including the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, the State University of Northern Negros – College of Fisheries and Allied Sciences, and the Provincial Environment and Management Office.

Last year, a two-day writeshop laid the foundation for the proposal.

The initiative will run until December 2026 and is expected to bring significant gains in ecosystem restoration, community governance, and biodiversity conservation in the Lapus-Lapus Macapagao area.