All 11 municipalities of Occidental Mindoro gathered at the Provincial Training Center in Mamburao for the Seventh West Philippine Sea (WPS) Provincial Caravan. Organized by the WPS conveners group, with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) at the helm, the caravan aims to rally local governments around a unified action plan to safeguard the West Philippine Sea’s marine and coastal resources.
A total of 171 participants, including local government officials from the planning, environment, and agriculture sectors, along with the chairs of municipal and city council environment committees, attended the event. The caravan serves as a platform to expand support for WPS protection across the 10 provinces bordering the sea, focusing on disseminating national and provincial action plans.
Mamburao Mayor Hon. Angelina F. Tria emphasized the importance of the caravan in helping local officials cascade, validate, and refine action plans. She reiterated the municipality’s commitment to protecting the West Philippine Sea. Occidental Mindoro State College Vice President Mr. Ronaldo G. Orpiano underscored the cultural and economic significance of the WPS, stressing the need for unified efforts to empower communities to preserve its wealth.
In a powerful speech, Governor Eduardo B. Gadiano stressed the need for active participation from local government units (LGUs), recognizing that the protection of the WPS is not just a national issue but a local one, essential to national food security and sustainable livelihoods. He called on LGUs to implement concrete action plans for the protection of marine resources, highlighting the roles of municipal fisheries and aquatic resource management councils (MFARMCs) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
On behalf of DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Usec. Nestor B. Sanarez delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the Department's commitment to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s strong stance on the West Philippine Sea (WPS). He highlighted the President's third SONA, which reaffirmed the country's rights and sovereignty over the WPS, supported by a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that granted the Philippines sovereign rights to the 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the WPS. This includes rights to fishing and marine conservation. A national summit has fostered partnerships among the national government, academia, LGUs, and civil society to develop a national action plan. The Undersecretary expressed optimism for productive collaboration with LGUs and agencies to implement the provincial action plan, ensuring food security, marine biodiversity, and inclusive socio-economic growth.
The caravan also featured workshops and presentations on the progress of the Occidental Mindoro Provincial Action Plan for the WPS. Participants signed a Commitment Wall, pledging their dedication to the preservation of the WPS. Asec. Lilian M. De Leon of the DILG unveiled a template ordinance that aims to institutionalize the creation of a WPS Council in the province, ensuring the continuity of efforts.
The caravan included site visits to Sablayan, where participants learned about sustainable livelihoods, tourism, and environmental conservation. Key highlights included the Fish Landing Facility, the Pinagpalang Lagusan Mangrove Forest Park, and the pristine waters of Pandan Island. The tour offered a firsthand look at how the region is balancing conservation with community development.
The caravan is part of a wider initiative of Tanggol Kalikasan supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Gerry Roxas Foundation and organized by a coalition of government agencies, local universities, and international partners. Through this joint effort, the West Philippine Sea continues to be a central focus for both local and national actors committed to its protection for future generations.