Dapa, Surigao del Norte — April 29, 2025 — The Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (SIPLAS) Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) Executive Committee held its second quarterly meeting on April 29 at D’Islanders Ville Pension House in Dapa, Surigao del Norte, to reinforce the sustainable management of the protected area.
Presiding over the session was Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga OIC-Regional Executive Director and PAMB Chairperson Maritess M. Ocampo, who led the discussions on key developments and strategic directions for SIPLAS.
The meeting featured comprehensive reports and proposed resolutions from several committees under the PAMB, all aimed at boosting conservation efforts and enhancing governance in the protected landscape and seascape.
Among the notable presentations was the report of Mr. Larry Valentino E. Agudo, Sangguniang Bayan Secretary of LGU San Isidro and Chair of the Site Development and Resource Management (SDRM) Committee. His report included proposed resolutions on critical resource management initiatives across SIPLAS.
Mr. Romel M. Virtudazo, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer of Santa Monica, delivered the Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) and Partnership Development Committee Report. Representing the LGU of Santa Monica, Virtudazo outlined strategies for fostering greater public involvement and strengthening inter-agency cooperation.
Biodiversity monitoring and conservation were also high on the agenda. Dr. Joey G. Escauso, Director of Surigao del Norte State University – Del Carmen Campus and Chair of the Biodiversity Assessment, Monitoring, and Conservation Management (BAMCM) Committee, presented updates and proposed resolutions to protect SIPLAS’ rich biodiversity.
Financial matters were also discussed, with Protected Area Superintendent and Development Management Officer IV Samuel L. Malayao sharing updates on the Integrated Protected Area Fund (IPAF), focusing on the fiscal sustainability of SIPLAS operations.
The meeting also saw the attendance of Surigao del Norte OIC-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Agapito T. Patubo and Conservation and Development-PABES Chief, Development Management Officer III Cleofe J. Aranas.
As one of the strategic engagements of the SIPLAS PAMB, the quarterly meeting aims to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and reinforce their commitment to protecting one of the Philippines’ most ecologically significant island landscapes.