[𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐃]

The University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Extension Team successfully conducted the exit meeting for the project, “𝐁𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐬𝐚 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧: 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐄𝐂 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬,” at the Peñaplata Barangay Hall last February 25, 2026. This marks a significant milestone in its three-year partnership with the 𝐏𝐞ñ𝐚𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 and 𝐀𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 (𝐁𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐂) and the 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐤 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲. The whole-day affair was graced by key stakeholders pivotal to the project’s success. 𝐇𝐨𝐧. 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐂. 𝐂𝐚ñ𝐞𝐭𝐞, 𝐉𝐫., Barangay Captain of Peñaplata, expressed his gratitude for the academic support provided by USeP. Joining him were 𝐁𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐂 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐨, 𝐔𝐒𝐞𝐏 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐫. 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐠, and 𝐔𝐒𝐞𝐏 𝐂𝐀𝐒 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐫. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐨, alongside the dedicated members of the 𝐁𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐬𝐚 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 and the 𝐁𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐂, whose hands-on efforts over the last three years made these achievements possible.

Since its inception in 2023, the partnership between 𝐁𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐂 and 𝐔𝐒𝐞𝐏 𝐂𝐀𝐒 has focused on laying a foundation for longterm, sustainable mangrove propagation and coastline rehabilitation. The project’s three-year roadmap successfully established a sustainable mangrove nursery, enhanced community capacity to empower local stakeholders, and equipped BFARMC members with the technical skills to manage and protect their marine resources. Additionally, the team developed specialized 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, and 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐈𝐄𝐂) materials designed to institutionalize environmental care within the barangay and the broader public.

While this specific project cycle officially wraps up, the gains achieved serve as a powerful launchpad for the next phase of partnership and even deeper environmental initiatives for the shores of IGaCoS.