DENR Caraga, through the PENR Office of Surigao del Norte (SDN) and the Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) of the Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (SIPLAS) together with the protected area’s various stakeholders, spearheaded the 26th anniversary celebration of SIPLAS with various activities from October 4-10, 2022 within the Municipality of Burgos, SDN, being this year’s host for the commemoration.
This year's theme "Bangon Sanan Padajon, SIPLAS @ 26" emphasizes the gradual recovery and rehabilitation of the protected area (PA) as well as the entire community from the damage caused by Super Typhoon Odette. It also calls for hope and a continuous drive to make the PA resilient to various calamities.
Activities conducted within the protected area were the motorcade which opened the celebration, the PAMB En Banc meeting, and the opening of the Booth Exhibit/Gallery walk which were all held at the Municipal Gymnasium of Burgos on October 4, 2022.
Hon. Mayor Alfredo M. Coro II of LGU-Del Carmen presided the morning session of the PAMB En Banc meeting while Hon. Mayor Angie B. Arcena of LGU-Burgos chaired the afternoon session.
During the program, the PAMB members and the significant stakeholders signed the “Renewal of the Declaration of Support” for the annual SIPLAS Week celebration to maintain and intensify collaborative efforts among the communities to protect and conserve the protected landscapes and seascapes and prevent further destruction on the island.
Moreover, PENRO Agapito T. Patubo of Surigao del Norte, together with PASu Celsa G. Espadero, Hon. Mayor Coro, Hon. Mayor Arcena, and Hon. Mayor Arwela A. Dolar of Sta. Monica led the ribbon cutting ceremony to open the booth exhibit. The activity was participated by MLGUs of Burgos, San Benito, Pilar, San Isidro, Rare Philippines, USAID-SIBOL, and PAMO-SIPLAS.
Other activities conducted during the week-long celebration were the community mural painting led by Rare Philippines held at San Benito, SDN; SIPLAS and Youth Summit; soft launching of the Somyot Cave and Baybay marine protected area in Burgos, SDN; "Huni sa SIPLAS" singing contest; "Sajaw sa SIPLAS" dance contest; ”Hiyas Nan SIPLAS 2022" beauty and advocacy pageant; and, scubasurero.
Siargao and Bucas Grande Group of Islands was declared a PA on October 10, 1996 under the category of Protected Landscape and Seascape through Presidential Proclamation No. 902 by his excellency Fidel V. Ramos. The basis of the proclamation was Republic Act No. 7586 also known and referred to as the NIPAS Act or the National Integrated Protected Area System Act of 1992. In 2018, the NIPAS Act was amended through the passage of RA 11038 also known as the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area System (ENIPAS) Act.##