The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Protected Area Management Office of the Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (DENR-PAMO-SIPLAS), along with its stakeholders and partners, commemorated the protected area’s 27th Anniversary with a series of activities under the theme “SIPLAS Youth: Frontliner for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development” from October 9-13, 2023.

The celebration, dubbed “SIPLAS Week,” had a motorcade around the mainland of Siargao, Surigao del Norte, last October 9 as a kick-off for the weeklong event.

The Philippine National Police Marshalls from Dapa, Burgos, and Pilar Municipal Police Stations led the delegations from three (3) different routes—Route 1, from General Luna, Socorro, and Dapa; Route 2, from Pilar and San Isidro; and Route 3, from Burgos, Sta. Monica and San Benito—all leading to the town of Del Carmen, where the participants from the nine (9) Local Government Units with their respective Barangay Captains and the various stakeholders from the National Government Agencies and Non-Government Organizations in Siargao, converged at the Bayay Numancia in the said municipality. The Drum and Lyre Corps from Burgos National High School and Del Carmen National High School played an important

role in setting the tone and making the opening festive.

The second SIPLAS-Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) en banc meeting happened during the day. More than 100 SIPLAS-PAMB members attended the activity composed of the Local Chief Executives, Municipal Environment and Natural Resource Officers (MENROs), and Barangay Captains from the nine (9) municipalities in Siargao, namely, Del Carmen, Dapa, San Benito, Sta. Monica, Burgos, San Isidro, Pilar, General Luna and Socorro. Also present were the government and private entities from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-Science and Innovation Building Opportunities for Leverage (SIBOL), RARE Philippines, Sentro para sa Ikauunlad ng Katutubong Agham at Teknolohiya (SIKAT) Incorporated, Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International, and Surigao del Norte State University.

The PAMB is the governing body of the SIPLAS as prescribed in the NIPAS Act and its amended version, ENIPAS Law.

A photo exhibit showcasing the environmental initiatives and accomplishments of the municipalities, academe, and major stakeholders of the SIPLAS was also one of the highlights of the opening of the weeklong celebration of the SIPLAS 27th anniversary at Bayay nan Numancia in Del Carmen.  The activity was a competition using recycled, reused, and indigenous materials in the most creative way possible. The municipality of San Benito bagged the Best Booth Award, while the municipalities of Sta. Monica and Del Carmen got the second and third places, respectively. 

Moreover, the PAMO-SIPLAS facilitated the SIPLAS Summit as part of the 27th Anniversary celebration.  Held at the Surigao del Norte State University (SNSU) Conference Room in Del Carmen, the summit was actively participated by the student councils and advisers of the Surigao del Norte State University (SNSU)-Del Carmen Campus and Siargao Island Institute of Technology (SIIT).

The key stakeholders of SIPLAS, including the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine National Police (PNP)-Maritime, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), USAID-SIBOL, SIKAT, Incorporated, RARE Philippines, STOA, and Lokal Lab, Incorporated, and the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officers of the LGUs of Del Carmen, Burgos, and Sta Monica came together to extend their full support and share their environmental initiatives and milestones throughout the years that aim to inspire the youth to become environmental advocates.

The PAMO-SIPLAS presented recognitions to the Environmental Heroes in Siargao for their outstanding contributions to environmental law enforcement, protection, and conservation. The awardees were the personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine National Police (PNP)-Maritime.

The summit concluded with the presentation of Certificates of Commendation and Participation to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of all participants and environmental partners.

Other activities of the 27th SIPLAS Week celebration were the SIPLAS Youth Summits and the Culmination Night, which showcased talents and advocacies within the protected area.

Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (SIPLAS) is the largest marine protected area in the Philippines, established through Presidential Proclamation No. 902, issued by the late President Fidel V. Ramos, on October 10, 1996.

It covers the entire Siargao Islands and Bucas Grande Group of Islands, with an aggregate area of 283,974.77 hectares, of which   221,178.77 hectares are marine areas and 62,796 hectares are terrestrial areas.

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Parent Category: News & Events
Category: Press Releases
Published: 26 October 2023