PRICELESS Project Conducts Courtesy Visits and Preliminary Coordination Meetings with Local Stakeholders Across Philippine Rise Regions

 

The PRICELESS Project in July 2026 conducted a series of courtesy visits and preliminary coordination meetings with local partners and stakeholders across project sites spanning Regions II, III, IV-A, and V to introduce the project and identify opportunities for collaboration in support of its implementation.

 

The Philippine Rise Integrated Conservation for Enduring Legacies through Ecosystem Support Services or the PRICELESS Project aims to conserve and better protect the Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve (PRMRR), the 352,390-hectare portion within the Philippine Rise recognized for its rich marine biodiversity and economic significance. Last June 18-19, 2026, the project successfully convened its interim Inter-Agency Technical Working Group and Project Steering Committee as part of the initial efforts to kick-start the project implementation and establish its governance mechanisms on the national level. Leveraging from this engagement, the project now aims to kick-off its implementation activities to the regional level through the conduct of site visits.

 

The visits were conducted by the PRICELESS Management Unit, hosted by the PEMSEA Resource Facility, and key personnel from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB).

 

Several cities and municipalities in eight provinces facing the Philippine Rise were visited, including Tuguegarao City, Lal-lo, Gonzaga, and Aparri in Cagayan; Ilagan City in Isabela; Baler, Casiguran, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, and Dingalan in Aurora; Real and Infanta in Quezon Province; Daet in Camarines Norte; Pili and Bula in Camarines Sur; Legaspi City in Albay; and Virac in Catanduanes.
 

 

A local fisherman repairs his fishing net along the shores of Dipaculao, Aurora.

 

The project highlights the need for multisectoral and multi-agency coordination in establishing permanent protection for the PRMRR. Participating agencies of the said visits were the regional offices of DENR, including its respective Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENROs and CENROs); Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR); Philippine Coast Guard (PCG); Philippine Navy; Philippine National Police Maritime Group (PNP-MG); Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev); provincial and local government units; academic and research institutions; civil society organizations; and other relevant local government agencies.

 

 

^{PRICELESS Project’s courtesy visit in Region 2 (from left to right: Provincial Government of Isabela in Ilagan City, DENR Region 2, DOST Region 2, and DEPDev Region 2)}

 

 

^{PRICELESS Project’s courtesy visit in Region 3 (from left to right: DENR Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office - Aurora, Office of the Municipal Mayor in Baler, Provincial Government of Aurora - Environment and Natural Resources Office, and Aurora State College of Technology)}

 

During the meetings, regional offices and local stakeholders provided valuable recommendations to help strengthen project implementation. Among their key contributions was the identification of relevant stakeholders who will be engaged in the project's succeeding activities. 

 

^{PRICELESS Project’s courtesy visit in Region 4A (from left to right: DENR Region IV-A, Office of the Municipal Mayor of Real, Quezon, DENR Community Environment and Natural Resources Office - Real, Quezon, and Philippine Coast Guard - Real, Quezon)}

 

 

^{PRICELESS Project’s courtesy visit in Region 5 (from left to right: Camarines Norte Provincial Capitol, DA-BFAR Region 5, DENR Region 5, and  Catanduanes Provincial Capitol)}
 

The courtesy visits and preliminary coordination meetings were done in preparation for the project’s Echo-Inception and Project Awareness Workshops, which will be conducted from August to September. The efforts are part of the project’s aim for effective implementation at the local level while fostering ownership and inclusive participation of its communities. 
 

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