Makati City—Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF) this week signed an agreement with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of the province of Marinduque to elevate environmental awareness and protect the province’s marine biodiversity.
Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Jay Velasco and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan led the signing ceremonies, which would jump-start the establishment by the Shore It Up! Foundation, MPIC’s flagship environmental program in the province. This includes the set up of inspection and conservation guardians (marine guardians), underwater clean-up, particularly in the province’s coral reefs, an information, education and communication (IEC) campaign to protect over 2,000 hectares of mangroves, and eco-tourism.
“I am pleased that we have institutionalized collaboration among our member companies and with different stakeholders from government, academe and civil society – to rapidly respond to socio-economic issues of our country, as well as to proactively support activities towards community development,” said Pangilinan.
“The province of Marinduque is very much pleased that Shore It Up! and the MVP group decided to implement their MPIC Guardians Program here in our island, so that these men can be in authority to better patrol our seas and heighten the protection and conservation efforts,” said Congressman Velasco.
Special efforts to reduce ecological impact
Shore It Up! (SIU) is an award-winning environmental sustainability program which is commemorating its 12th year of existence in 2020. It chose Marinduque as its new SIU community partner due to the province’s geographic location as a center of marine biodiversity.
Marinduque is the eighth Shore It Up! site in the country.
A popular destination among among dive enthusiasts in the country, and international dive afficionados, the island also attracts tourists for its rustic, calm and blissful atmosphere.
Similar to other Shore It Up! projects all over the country, MPIF is looking at a provincial-wide coastal and underwater clean-up, marine protection, inspection, and conservation , as well as the set up of a cadre of marine guardians in the island.
Under the MOU, Shore It Up! plans to earmark specific efforts, as well as sustainable programs that will benefit not only the environment, but the local community of Marinduque as well.
Setting up a cadre of marine guardians
Similar to other Shore It Up! Projects all over the country, MPIF is looking a provincial-wide coastal and underwater clean-up, marine protection, inspection, and conservation , as well as the set up of a cadre of marine guardians in the island.
Shore It Up! also plans to make a significant impact in the coastal areas by increasing community involvement in environmental awareness and providing programs for sustainable ecotourism.
“We are glad to make progress in gradually increasing community involvement in environmental awareness and providing programs for sustainable ecotourism in various coastal areas of the country, especially in Marinduque,” said Del Rosario.