The DENR CENRO Lipa-Conservation and Development Section (CDS) headed by Senior EMS Josefa Lozada in partnership with the municipal LGU of Mabini, Batangas facilitated a meeting to apprise the Marine Protected Area (MPA) Establishment Process and the Updating and Adoption of Management Plans of two (2) proposed MPAs on the said municipality on July 30, 2020.

Barangay Chairpersons and Councilors and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) representatives from the four (4) concerned barangays- Malimatoc I, Malimatoc II, Solo, and San Jose and staff/ personnel from the Municipal Tourism and Municipal Agriculture's Office participated on the said activity.

The meeting started with the review of the concepts on MPAs, the establishment process and management planning. Highlights of the initially-drafted MPA Plans and maps with proposed delineated MPA boundaries were also presented and discussed among the stakeholders. Commitment and social acceptability on the motion to pursue the MPA establishment were solicited during the meeting which was positively responded by the participants, specially the barangay chairpersons.

As part of the next steps on MPA establishment, meetings/workshops aiming to focus on reviewing and updating the content of the MPA Plan as well as the objective and management type for each MPA are set to be conducted on August 11 and 12, 2020 for the Solo-San Jose MPA and Malimatoc 1&2 MPA, respectively.

Be informed that all the precautionary measures and safety protocols re: COVID-19 threat were properly practiced and observed in the conduct of the said activity.