Alburquerque, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia and Ubay, Bohol – Nineteen (19) Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Alburquerque, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, and Ubay, Bohol, were assessed using the MPA Management Effectiveness Assessment Tool (MEAT) on August 8, 16, and 30, 2024. The MPAs include Sta. Filomena MPA in Alburquerque, Guintaboan MPA in Ubay, and 17 MPAs in Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, including Aguining and Saguise.

The FISH Visayas Project recognizes that effective MPA management is crucial for marine biodiversity conservation, sustainable fisheries, and ecosystem protection. Substantially, the MPA MEAT provides a structured assessment of how well local governments enforce, implement, and maintain these areas. The tool employed measures management effectiveness across four levels: (1) Established, (2) Strengthened, (3) Sustained, and (4) Institutionalized, each level associated with specific governance criteria.

MPA MEAT Results

Among the 19 MPAs, only the Guintaboan Marine Sanctuary in Ubay achieved a rating, reaching Level 2 (Strengthened). The remaining MPAs were rated at Level 0 due to missing key requirements such as formal management plans and budget allocations. The MEAT results, however, highlighted areas for targeted interventions to strengthen governance and management structures in the future.

MPA MEAT for Sta. Felomina Marine Sanctuary

On August 8, 2024, Sta. Filomena Marine Sanctuary earned 50 points, reflecting successful management activities such as patrolling, enforcement, and biophysical monitoring. However, due to the absence of an adopted MPA management plan, the sanctuary’s overall rating dropped to Level 0. Previously, Sta. Filomena had been rated Level 3 in 2021, but its failure to adopt the 2022-2025 management plan and secure a municipal ordinance resulted in the lower score. Moving forward, the local government unit (LGU) has been provided with recommendations to improve governance and sustainability.

The MPA MEAT assessment for Sta. Filomena was facilitated by the Bohol Provincial Environment Management Office (BPEMO), the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), and AFOS Foundation.

MPA MEAT for the 17 MPAs in Pres. Carlos P. Garcia

On August 16, 2024, seventeen (17) MPAs in Pres. Carlos P. Garcia underwent the MPA MEAT assessment, all receiving a Level 0 rating. Despite satisfactory ratings in several categories, the MPAs failed to meet key criteria for Level 1, primarily due to the absence of adopted management plans and allocated budgets. Additional challenges included Typhoon Odette’s destruction of barangay halls, leading to misplaced documentation. A week was granted for LGUs to complete and retrieve necessary documents, with assistance from the CRM Fishery Technician.

Outdated MPA management plans were a common issue, prompting plans for an MPA planning workshop and a biophysical assessment in September to update these documents.

The assessment for Pres. Carlos P. Garcia MPAs was facilitated by the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation, Inc. (CCEF), BPEMO, Bohol Island State University (BISU), BCCI, and AFOS Foundation.

MPA MEAT for Guintaboan Marine Sanctuary

On August 30, 2024, the Guintaboan Marine Sanctuary in Ubay reached Level 2 (Strengthened), earning 74 points with high ratings across management activities such as planning, enforcement, and budget allocation. While the sanctuary performed well in most areas, improvements were recommended in addressing violations and holding judicial assemblies for community adjudication of related cases.

The assessment was facilitated in partnership with BPEMO, BCCI, and AFOS Foundation.

Moving Forward

The MPA MEAT results serve as a baseline for future interventions aimed at improving the governance and management of MPAs. Follow-up assessments will be conducted in the identified potential model sites, one from each partner LGU, supported by the FISH Visayas Project.

—

The Marine Protected Area (MPA) Management Effectiveness Assessment Tool (MEAT) Evaluation of the MPAs of Bohol Project Sites in Alburquerque, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, and Ubay aspire to achieve Result Area 4: Resource Protection of the FISH Visayas Project.