PLDT Inc. and its wireless arm, Smart Communications Inc., have joined forces with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to enhance marine resource protection in Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (SIPLAS).
Tools to combat illegal fishing
In a recent turnover ceremony, PLDT and Smart handed over tablets and connectivity support to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to aid in combating illegal fishing activities in SIPLAS.
This initiative is part of the Fisheries Sharing Hub on Investigation, Enforcement, Litigation, and Detection System (FishSHIELDS), a digital enforcement tool co-developed by USAID and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). FishSHIELDS equips officers with resources to identify, deter, and address violations in Philippine waters effectively.
The partnership is further strengthened through USAID’s Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans, and Landscapes (SIBOL) project. SIBOL collaborates with DENR and BFAR to bolster environmental governance in biodiversity hotspots, including SIPLAS in Surigao del Norte and Masinloc-Oyon Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape (MOBPLS) in Zambales.
Home to vital marine ecosystems
These areas are home to vital marine ecosystems that provide food, livelihoods, and natural storm barriers for local communities but remain threatened by illegal activities.
“As we operate across the country’s rich biodiversity landscape, we at PLDT and Smart recognize our impact on nature, and conversely, nature’s impact on our business; thus, the need for a deliberate and responsible approach to manage our environmental impact and promote sustainable use of our natural resources,” said Melissa Vergel de Dios, PLDT and Smart’s chief sustainability officer.
“This collaboration with USAID is yet another project where we will leverage on communications technology to support the preservation of biodiversity sites that are of national and global importance,” de Dios added.
Biodiversity risk management
“USAID is proud of our partnerships with the Government of the Philippines, the private sector, and communities to protect the oceans and conserve biodiversity. These new tools will help local enforcers to protect Siargao’s precious marine resources for future generations,” said Ryder Rogers, director of USAID’s Environment Office.
PLDT and Smart are also working with USAID to design and conduct a biodiversity risk management workshop for the former’s employees and supply chain partners to enhance identification and management of potential risks to biodiversity as they rollout network facilities and operate across the country.
