CORON, PALAWAN — A new floating cottage was officially inaugurated on April 16, 2025, in Barangay Bulalacao, Coron, Palawan, providing an additional ecotourism attraction that will serve both as a livelihood incentive for the local community and as a sustainable source of support for the protection and enforcement of the community’s award-winning Marine Protected Area (MPA).
The floating cottage forms part of the continuing conservation partnership among the local community of Bulalacao, the Local Government Unit of Coron, and Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI). This long-standing collaboration began in 2013 and led to the establishment of the more than 3,400-hectare Bulalacao Marine Protected Area in 2014.
Over the years, the Bulalacao MPA has gained national and provincial recognition for its exemplary community-based management and conservation efforts. Most recently, it secured 4th place nationwide in the 2025 Para El Mar Awards, one of the country’s most prestigious recognitions for marine conservation initiatives. The MPA has also received multiple awards since 2017, including being recognized as both Best Indigenous Peoples (IP)-Managed MPA and Best Community-Managed MPA during the 2024 Palawan PEARL Awards.
The inauguration ceremony was led by Municipal Agriculturist Gerry Gevela, together with representatives from the Barangay Government of Bulalacao, the Local Government Unit of Coron, Malampaya Foundation Inc., and community partners including the Samahan ng Mangingisda ng Barangay Bulalacao (SMBB) and the Bulalacao Tourist Boat Service Cooperative.
The floating cottage is envisioned as a community-managed ecotourism enterprise that will provide additional income opportunities for local residents while strengthening conservation efforts. Under the agreed management scheme, 10 to 15 percent of the profits generated from the ecotourism operation will be allocated to a conservation fund, ensuring sustained support for MPA management, monitoring, and enforcement activities.
This initiative reflects the shared commitment of the community and its partners to demonstrate that marine conservation and sustainable livelihood development can go hand in hand. By linking ecotourism revenues directly to conservation financing, the project helps secure the long-term protection of Bulalacao’s rich marine resources while creating tangible benefits for the people who serve as their stewards.
