(Photo courtesy of Negros Occidental PEMO)
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The Negros Occidental provincial government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area (NOCWCA) as it marks its 10th anniversary as a Wetland of International Importance.
The conservation area was officially designated as the Philippines’ seventh Ramsar Site on October 20, 2016, recognizing its ecological significance and role in protecting biodiversity.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson emphasized the importance of sustained cooperation among local governments, communities, and environmental organizations in preserving the province’s coastal ecosystems.
“A decade of working together has brought us this far. As we begin another decade, let us remain committed to protecting our wetlands and wildlife while making our coastal communities safer and more resilient,” Lacson said Wednesday, October 21.
As part of the anniversary celebration, the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) unveiled Ramsar markers in Pulupandan and Valladolid on Tuesday.
The two municipalities are among the 10 local government units comprising the Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Area Management Alliance (NOCWAMA).
Other members include the cities of Bago, Himamaylan, and Kabankalan, along with the municipalities of San Enrique, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Binalbagan, and Ilog.
Similar markers were installed in seven localities in 2025, while Bago City unveiled its marker in 2024.
The conservation area stretches across 109.52 kilometers of coastline, covering 52 coastal barangays in southern Negros Occidental.
According to PEMO, the wetlands provide critical habitats for globally threatened wildlife, including migratory birds that depend on the area’s mangrove forests and mudflats for feeding and shelter.
The coastal ecosystems also support fisheries, provide food resources, and sustain the livelihoods of communities that rely on marine and coastal resources.
NOCWAMA brings together local governments, coastal communities, people’s organizations, fisheries and aquatic resource management councils, and community-based environmental enforcement groups to strengthen conservation efforts.
The alliance has also received recognition for its environmental initiatives.
In 2021, its project, “Network of Alliances for Coastal Wetlands Conservation,” was named among the Top 10 winners of the Galing Pook Awards for innovative local governance.
In 2023, NOCWAMA received a special citation from the Para El Mar Awards for establishing the country’s first Network of Coastal Greenbelt Zones.
Lacson credited these achievements to the collective efforts of stakeholders working to preserve the province’s coastal environment.
“These recognitions belong to all members and partners who have contributed their time, expertise, resources and commitment to conservation,” the governor said.
The provincial government emphasized that continued collaboration and community participation remain essential to protecting coastal biodiversity, supporting local livelihoods, and strengthening resilience against environmental threats.
