In line with its core emphasis on sustainable tourism and environmentally conscious living, Costa Del Hamilo, Inc. (CDHI), the movers behind Hamilo Coast in Nasugbu, Batangas, recently completed a Marine Protected Area (MPA) assessment. The sites targeted were three of 12 coves in the property, established as MPAs for CDHI’s Sustainable Development Project, implemented from 2017 to 2019.
The concept of a marine protected area or MPA is an approach to marine conservation that has been around since the 1970s, and has proven effective in many places in the world surrounded by oceans, and where fishing is a way of life. It safeguards an area’s biological diversity, preserves natural habitats, keeps fish and other resources available for those who need them, and encourages low-impact tourism.
Carrying out the assessment was the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF) which has been working with CDHI since 2007 to monitor the health and viability of the Hamilo Coast area. The MPAs were assessed based on three parameters: benthic, or the conditions of the sea bottom in the area; fish life, which measures the species and number of fish present; and invertebrate population, which includes familiar reef creatures like sea urchins, clams, lobsters, and starfish.
In Etayo Cove, hard coral cover had been accumulating even before the bleaching episode, and despite evidence of fishing activity, the reefs were moderately healthy. Most promising, however, were the results for Santelmo Cove, where the live hard coral cover was estimated at 61 percent after continually increasing over the years, putting the reefs in excellent condition.
The MPA assessment underscores CDHI’s commitment to maintain the quality and integrity of the area’s waters to protect the marine ecosystem they support. “As developers, we are not only involved in cultivating land, but we also take the responsibility to think of ways to nurture and augment this diversified natural environment,” says Frank Bolalin, Assistant Vice President for Hamilo Estate Management. “Ultimately, this is what makes Hamilo Coast not just a premium beach resort development, but a safe and healthy habitat.”
