DENR 6 Regional Executive Director and Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) Chairperson Livino B. Duran spearheaded the 66^th Meeting of the Sibalom Natural Park (SNP) – PAMB on November 23, 2023 at Sibalom, Antique.

SNP is one of the protected areas under the stewardship of DENR Western Visayas through Forester Louie L. Laud, Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer of CENRO–Belison who also serves as the Park’s concurrent Protected Area Superintendent (PASu).

“We have a lot to discuss in terms of the protection of SNP. The PAMB must play a proactive role. Everything that happens inside the protected area, or in the future development projects that will be proposed nga makasulod sa area, we need to debate that here sa PAMB bag-o naton hatagan sang naga-kaigo nga permiso,” RED Duran expressed.

A total of 17 out of 24 PAMB members composed of Barangay Captains, local government officials, members of the academe, the private sector, and other stakeholders took part in the discussions ranging from the presentation of the Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS) analysis for the 4^th quarter to the endorsement of the Updated SNP-Protected Area Management Plan for 2024-2033, and other pressing concerns.

SNP Deputy – PASu Joery D. Oczon meanwhile presented the accomplishments made at the Sibalom Natural Park in the year 2023. Some of the highlights include the different approved resolutions concerning the newly adopted logo of SNP, recovery of fallen trees due to the onslaught of Typhoon Paeng in 2022, the repair of several facilities within the park, and financial report.

Sibalom Natural Park came into being through Republic Act 11038 s. 2018 and spans a total of 6,778.44 hectares, serving as a sanctuary for endemic species of flora and fauna such as the Visayan Spotted Deer (Rusa alfredi), Visayan Tarictic Hornbill (Penelopides panini), Visayan Warty Pig (Sus cebifrons), and Rafflesia speciosa.

The meeting also became an opportunity to welcome new members of the Board and to thank the SNP staff for their continued dedication towards preserving the protected area for future generations.

Also gracing the event was Assistant Regional Director for Management Services Andres T. Untal, one of the leading forces in pushing for the improvement of Sibalom Natural Park by establishing important linkages to different government officials and agencies.

“Bugal ini naton tanan. Panginbulahan gid sa inyo. Ang aton knowledge about sa protected area, i-share naton sa tanan paagi sa mga ga bisita diri sa SNP,” ARD Untal said.

The preservation of SNP and other protected areas is in line with DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga’s push to strengthen engagement with local communities to protect ecosystems and through the adoption of holistic policies concerning the management and conservation of the country’s rich biodiversity.